A student named Rafid Khan claimed that he was thrown to the ground by police officials, who kicked him with boots, beat him and struck him with a helmet after police attacked engineering students while they were marching towards the state guest house Jamuna to press their three-point demand on August 27.
Rafid is an electrical and electronic engineering student at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
An image showing the Dhaka Metropolitan Police鈥檚 Ramna division deputy commissioner Masud Alam clamping a protesting聽 student鈥檚 mouth with his right hand went viral on social media on August 28.
The DMP, however, in a statement on August 28 claimed that the image was created using artificial intelligence, alleging that it was intentionally created to mislead the public.
Denying that the photo was AI-generated, Rafid told 抖阴精品 on Friday that they were repeatedly trying to show that they did not want any confrontation with police and which was why they sat down on the road in front of InterContinental Dhaka Hotel.
The police fired sound grenades and tear gas anyways, forcing many to retreat, he said, adding that later, water cannons were used against them as many of them remained seated.
鈥業 became disoriented as the water cannons hit me and then some police personnel rushed forward and started beating me. I was hit from behind, from the front, with batons and even helmets. At one point, someone hit me on my head with a helmet and I almost collapsed,鈥� Rafid said.
Then he was dragged away by some fellow students, he said, adding that later, he was taken to BUET Medical Centre for primary treatment.
鈥楾he next day, I went to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where X-rays were done. Thankfully, no fracture was found, though I am still in pain and on medication,鈥� he added.
He described the police鈥檚 action 鈥榟ighly unprofessional鈥�.
Fact-checking organisation Rumor Scanner on August 28 said that the photo was 鈥榞enuine and not AI generated鈥�, and the DMP circulated the original photo claiming it as AI-generated.
Multiple mainstream media outlets also published different versions of the same photo. The photo sparked an outcry on social media with many comparing it to one of the photos taken during the July uprising which ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
Several photojournalists, who were present at the scene, also said that the photo was taken on August 27 at a protest rally by the students of BSc engineering universities, mostly from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
抖阴精品 photojournalist Sony Ramany was also present at the spot and he managed to capture a photo of the incident just before the 鈥榝ace grab鈥� incident.
The students鈥� three-point demand includes reforms in the recruitment and promotion system of engineers in the public service.