Police truncheon charge on bcl men: Barguna ASP withdrawn

Moharram Ali, additional superintendent (crime) of Barguna police, was yesterday withdrawn hours after the home minister commented on police charging batons on BCL activists in the district on Monday.

"I saw [footage of the incident] on Facebook. A probe committee has been formed. Let the investigation be completed," said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday.

The footage showed police charging batons on BCL men and ASP Moharram having an argument with Barguna-1 lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu.

The footage went viral on social media.

Contacted, SM Aktaruzzaman, deputy inspector general of Barishal range, said ASP Moharram was now attached to DIG's office in Barishal.

"This decision has been taken for the sake of a fair investigation. The professionalism of the police will be investigated," he said.

On Monday, a faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), comprisingthose who did not secure any post in the party's recently-announced committee, attacked another BCL group.

The incident happened in front of the district's Shilpakala Academy following a programme observingthe National Mourning Day.

To disperse the attackers, police charged batons at the activists. MP Shambhu and some other Awami League leaders were present there.

Yesterday, a three-member committee was formed, headed by SM Tarek Rahman, additional superintendent (administration and finance) of police, to probe if the law enforcers' response to the clash was inappropriate.

The committee has also been directed to submit its report within three days.

About BCL men vandalising a police vehicle during the clash, MP Shambhu in a press briefing said he urged police to identify the culprits and take action against them.

"In fact, their [police personnel's] intention was to beat the BCL men. I tried to resist them, but there were too many policemen… None paid heed to my commands," he said.

He said this at Barguna Press Club around 9:00pm on Monday.

He also said that he had informed the highest level of the government about the issue and demanded exemplary punishment of ASP Moharram.

Referring to the district's recently-announced BCL committee, he said it was announced without conducting any council and without any consultation with political leadership.

Meanwhile, after the National Mourning Day programme on Monday, Barguna BCL President Rezaul Kabir Reza thanked the police for dispersing the attackers.

Asked if his comments contradict the MP's statement, he refused to say anything.