Police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades today to disperse a student protest march aimed at the home ministry, where students intended to demonstrate against an attack on the indigenous community.
Under the banner "Aggrieved Student-Masses," students and other protesters convened at the Raju Sculpture on Thursday (16 January) afternoon, calling for the arrest and trial of those involved in the assault on indigenous students, according to our senior photojournalist at the scene.
The protesters carried banners denouncing the attack, allegedly orchestrated by the group known as Students for Sovereignty, and demanded justice for the indigenous community.
As the demonstration advanced towards the secretariat, police intervened near Shikkha Bhaban around 12:30pm. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, law enforcement employed water cannons, tear gas shells, sound grenades, and batons.
Images from the scene depict protesters trying to breach the barricades.
The protest followed an incident the previous day in which at least 20 individuals were injured in a clash outside the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Motijheel.
The confrontation erupted during a scheduled event by a group of indigenous people and their supporters, protesting the removal of a graffiti image featuring the word "indigenous" (adivasi in Bangla) from textbooks.
The attack was allegedly carried out by members of Students for Sovereignty.
