The National Citizens` Party (NCP), the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and the Bangladesh Democratic Student Council have announced a new protest campaign calling for urgent reforms within the Bangladesh Police.
At a press conference held Thursday afternoon in Chattogram’s Sholoshohor area, NCP Joint Chief Organizer Jubair Hasan formally announced the launch of the movement. A protest march is scheduled for 6:00 PM, beginning from Sholoshohor.
The press conference was convened in response to recent unrest surrounding the arrest of a banned Chhatra League activist in Patiya, road blockades, and the call for the removal of Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zayed Noor.
Speakers at the event, including NCP’s Iman Sayed, Democratic Student Council Joint Convener Khan Talat Mahmud, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Member Secretary Nizam Uddin, Joint Secretary Ibn Hossain Ziyad, and Chief Organizer Tausif Imroz, voiced strong concerns over misconduct, abuse of power, political interference, and widespread public dissatisfaction involving the police force.
They criticized the recent administrative decision to transfer OC Zayed Noor to the range office instead of removing him entirely and initiating a judicial probe. “That was not our demand,” they stated. “We demanded his permanent removal and accountability.”
Tensions escalated earlier in the week when, on Tuesday night, members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement apprehended a member of the outlawed Chhatra League in front of the Central Shaheed Minar in Patiya.
When brought to the local police station, authorities refused to detain the suspect due to the absence of a formal case, sparking a verbal altercation.
Clashes broke out shortly afterward, injuring 19 people from both sides, according to the groups involved.
In response, the student activists launched a blockade around the Patiya police station the following morning, followed by demonstrations on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway that lasted for nearly nine hours.
They also blocked the road in front of the DIG’s office on Zakir Hossain Road for three hours to demand the removal of the OC.
Organizers have vowed to continue their protests until their demands for comprehensive police reform and accountability are met.
