Staff Reporter :
At least 30 people were injured in the clash between two student groups. Reports indicate that a group called “Students for Sovereignty” attacked demonstrators from minority communities during the unrest.
On Wednesday morning, a group of people under the Students for Sovereignty first took position around the office of NCTB to press home their five demands, including removal of a controversial graffiti, from textbooks.
On the other hand, Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People was also observing a program from Wednesday noon.
First the two both groups locked into scuffles over the forming a human shield. At one stage, they locked into a clash. Both groups blamed each other for starting the clash. In this issue, Motijheel Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Mohimenul Islam said the ethnic minority protesters dispersed after members of the “Students for Sovereignty” group chased them, and the situation is now under control.
Ten of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). They are- Photo Journalist of The New Nation Shamim Ahmed (30), Srestha Rupaiya (24), Isaba Suhrat (25), Rengiyang Mro (27), Futonto Chakma (22), Dhanjetra (28), Ananto Dhama (35), Journalist Jewel Mark (35), Shoilee (27), and Danwai Mro (24).
The clash reportedly began over the removal of an artwork containing the word “indigenous” from the online version of the ninth and tenth-grade Bengali grammar book.
Earlier on January 12, a group of students under the banner “Students for Sovereignty” protested at the NCTB, leading to the removal of the artwork.
In response, the group “Aggrieved Indigenous Students- People” announced a demonstration to besiege the NCTB office on Wednesday. Simultaneously, “Students for Sovereignty” also planned a protest at the same location.
Witnesses said both groups gathered in front of the NCTB office on Wednesday and began protesting separately. The situation escalated around 1pm, leading to a clash following an altercation.
Both groups accused each other of initiating the violence. Olik Mri, a leader of the ethnic minority students’ group, said, “Students for Sovereignty attacked us, injuring 11 of our members.”
Students for Sovereignty’s Convener Ziaul Islam said, “The ethnic minority students launched an attack on us, leaving 14 of our members injured.”
