Mobs carried out predetermined violence on the street yesterday, backed by police and led by student coordinators Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, as well as BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Hefazat-e-Islam activists under Dr Yunus’ regime. Journalists, civil society members and folks believe that the government encourages the culture of mob lynching. Last three months, at least 64 people have been killed by mobs, including countless undocumented incidents, with no legal action taken against the perpetrators. Since August 5, 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs has released a legal statement to protect people who have committed unlawful crimes, killing, looting and arson all around Bangladesh.
Mobs attacked Awami League leaders and activists from holding a preannounced political event at Zero Point in Gulistan yesterday.
In Gulistan, students and political activists beat at least 10 people along with freedom fighter, women, and journalists suspected of being AL and its affiliate organizations.
Raju Ahmed Miran, Ridoy, Rasel Haider, Rakib, and Mohammad Ali were treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Miran and Ridoy were attacked by mobs while chanting for AL near the stadium, according to Paltan Police Station sub-inspector Amit Biswas. He promised to take them to the police following treatment.
The Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League, deposed by the student-led mass uprising on August 5, ended the event with a “to restore democracy” protest march and Shaheed Noor Hossain Day gathering on its verified Facebook page.
On November 10, 1987, police fired at Zero Point, killing 26-year-old Jubo League leader Noor Hossain, who was opposing HM Ershad’s dictatorial government. A memorial was created and titled Noor Hossain Square.
Yunus’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, warned on Facebook, “The Awami League in its current form is a fascist party. There is no way this fascist party will be allowed to hold protests in Bangladesh. Anyone who tries to hold a rally, gathering, or procession by taking orders from the mass murderer and dictator Sheikh Hasina will face full force from law enforcement agencies. The Interim Government won’t tolerate any violence or attempt to break the country’s law and order situation.”
Noor Hossain’s family and other political parties laid wreaths at his memorial yesterday.
AL men could not reach Zero Point, but the party shared photographs and videos of its activists on Facebook, sparking lively processions in Motijheel and Press Club.
Hossain Mohammad Farabi, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Motijheel Zone, stated that 42 individuals, including nine women, were arrested during AL protests in Motijheel and Paltan.
Another was detained in Dilkusha. He said student and pro-uprising political activists gave numerous others to police, adding that further details will be revealed later.
Yesterday, the AL’s Saturday Facebook post urging its leaders and activists to converge at Zero Point at 3:00 pm sparked citywide tensions.
In reaction, the interim government claimed that “fascist” AL could not host the program. Late Saturday night, students and political activists protested near Zero Point, pledging to stop AL activists from gathering there.
Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of DMP, told The Daily Star that police raided various districts of the city on Saturday night and arrested over 50 AL activists for seeking to cause disorder in the name of protests.
Since yesterday morning, activists from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, BNP, Jamaat, and other groups have occupied Zero Point and neighboring places to protest the AL event. Many carried sticks.
They also gathered at AL’s Bangabandhu Avenue headquarters near Zero Point. Supporters of the interim government handed over to police after beating them for blasting “Joy Bangla.”
Agitators accused an elderly freedom fighter of being an AL activist and assaulted him badly around 12:45 pm. Victim identification was delayed.
Witnesses added that the man was curiously meandering when demonstrators asked him his motivation. They soon punched him in the face.
Many joined the crowd and beat the man randomly. Police saved him.
People express dissatisfaction that rallies and marches are a fundamental human right no government can seize.