12 injured as police charge batons on rally protesting fuel price hike at Shahbagh

At least twelve persons were injured as police charged batons on protestors as they were protesting the fuel price hike today at the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka.

Witnesses said, two groups of protestors were holding a rally this evening against the price hike while police attacked them, reports our Dhaka University correspondent.

The injured were given primary treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Some leftist student organisations were holding protest programmes against increased fuel prices and demanding reduction in load shedding in the country.

Around ten leaders were injured in the attack.

Besides, a group of people who continued a sit-in programme since Saturday night also came under attack while they were holding a rally at Shahbagh. Two Of them were also injured in the incident.

"We came under attack when we were rallying on the streets. Around ten of our leaders and activists were injured. Six of them are seriously injured who are taking primary treatment," said Saikot Arif, general secretary of Chhatra Federation.

"Police authorities had been threatening us ever since we started demonstrating against the fuel price hike," Ruhul Amin, a protestor told The Daily Star.

When contacted Moudut Hawlader, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, denied commenting on the matter.