National Citizen Party and the Students Against Discrimination on Thursday continued their demonstration protesting against police action against their activists at Patiya police station and demanding comprehensive police reforms.
Though the officer-in-charge of Patiya police station was withdrawn following their demands, the demonstrators alleged that the initiative was nothing but a 鈥榤ockery鈥� to them.
Several student and political organisations joined the Thursday鈥檚 demonstration organised by the NCP and the SAD. They launched a new platform demanding comprehensive police reforms.
The protesters brought out a procession from Soloshahar Railway Station at about 6:00pm and ended at the same point after marching through the city鈥檚 2 No Gate.
During the demonstration, a new alliance titled 鈥楶olice-Administration Reform Movement鈥� was launched, aiming to tackle corruption, politicisation, and irregularities within the law enforcement agencies and the administration.
NCP鈥簊 Chattogram media cell spokesperson Arafat Ahmed Rony said that the platform was launched involving different political and non-political student and youth organizations including the NCP, SAD, Islami Chhatra Shibir, Hefazat-e-Islam, Juba Shokti, Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Songshod, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Dawah Association, the Private University National Association of Bangladesh, Private University Students鈥� Alliance of Bangladesh, and the July Unity.
Earlier in the day, at a press conference at Soloshahar, NCP joint chief organizer Zubairul Hasan Arif announced the launch of the reform campaign.
He demanded the removal of Chattogram superintendent of police, a clear directive on police reform, and legal accountability for any officer who would fail to act against known political criminals from the ousted Awami League and its affiliated wings.
He said that the authorities offered only a superficial response by withdrawing the Patiya OC.
Arif claimed that when they tried to hand over Chhatra League members to Patiya police, they were tortured.
The unrest began Tuesday night when SAD activists detained a BCL leader in front of Patiya Shaheed Minar and took him to the police station, demanding his arrest.
When they reportedly tried to assault the detainee, the police intervened, leading to a clash. Several activists were injured during police baton charges.
On Wednesday, SAD and NCP activists laid siege to Patiya police station and blockaded the Chattogram-Cox鈥檚 Bazar highway near the Patiya bypass from 10:30am to 7:00pm, demanding the OC鈥檚 removal as well as the removal of the circle鈥檚 additional SP, the district SP and a sub-inspector of Patiya police station.
Chattogram SP Saiful Islam Santu said that the Patiya OC, Abu Zayed Md Nazmun Noor, was withdrawn and attached to the Chattogram Range DIG Office.