A brutal clash between students and security forces erupted in Dhaka, resulting in over 50 injuries. The violence began when students, many armed with sticks, marched toward the Secretariat where members of Ansar Bahini, a paramilitary force, were protesting.
The confrontation was triggered by students’ objections to the Ansar Bahini, accusing them of siding with the interim government led by Md. Yunus, which they claim is undermining student interests in favor of Ansar Bahini’s priorities. Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah has urgently called for public resistance against the Yunus government, alleging that the Ansar Bahini, a force of 6 million, is being used to suppress dissent and rig the upcoming elections.
Reportedly, Ansar Bahini members have been attacking students on the streets, with plainclothes police also participating in the crackdown. The Ansar Bahini, established on February 12, 1948, and operational from June 16, 1948, was previously deployed during the 1965 Indo-Pak war in the border outposts of what was then East Pakistan. Under Article 152 of the Constitution, the Ansar Bahini is an orderly force, but its aggressive actions are seen by some as part of a broader strategy to influence the upcoming elections and stabilize Yunus’ interim government.
Incident
The violence erupted after a lull of several days. Students, who had played a significant role in the recent protests leading to the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina government, confronted Ansar Bahini members at the Secretariat, calling them “agents of autocracy.” Initially, the Ansar members retreated but later returned to strike back with sticks and throw bricks.
The students were protesting against a longstanding tradition within the Ansar force, known as “rest tradition”, which mandates a six-month unpaid leave after three consecutive years of service. The students accused the Ansar Bahini of reneging on an agreement with the interim government to abolish this practice.
The clash escalated as both sides exchanged bricks. Police and military forces were deployed to restore order, but by then, tensions had already surged. The violence resulted in injuries to at least 50 people.
Dhaka’s Streets in Chaos
Student protest coordinator Hasnat Abdullah blamed former Ansar director general Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque for the ongoing blockade of the Secretariat, despite the students’ demands being addressed. Abdullah accused the Ansar force of attempting a return to autocratic practices through the current protests.
In response, Maj Gen Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, director general of the Ansar and Village Defence Force, denied that Ansar members were involved in the clashes. He claimed that the individuals involved were outsiders with ulterior motives.
The incident underscores the escalating tensions between students and paramilitary forces in Bangladesh, with both sides accusing each other of violence and ulterior motives. The interim government has promised to take legal action against those involved in the clashes, as the situation remains tense in Dhaka.
