NN Online:
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Patiya Police Station, Abu Zayed Md Nazmun Noor, was removed from his post late Wednesday night amid growing protests led by the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Confirming the development, Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Santu said the OC has been withdrawn and attached to the office of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Chattogram Range.
Earlier in the day, members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement took to the streets, demanding the OC’s immediate removal. The protests began around 10 am with a blockade in front of Patiya Police Station. By noon, demonstrators expanded their agitation to the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway at Indrapool, disrupting traffic until 7 pm. Before dispersing, they issued an ultimatum demanding the OC’s removal by 10 am Thursday.
According to the protesters, the unrest stemmed from an incident on Tuesday night when they detained a leader of the banned Chhatra League in the WAPDA Road area of Patiya municipal town and attempted to hand him over to police. However, OC Nazmun Noor allegedly refused to arrest the individual. Following his directive, police reportedly attacked student leaders and activists in two separate incidents, leaving around 20 injured.
In protest, students laid siege to Patiya Police Station from Wednesday morning and staged a sit-in on the adjacent highway. At approximately 11:45 am, the demonstrators shifted their protest to Indrapool, bringing traffic on the major highway to a standstill.
Later in the afternoon, after being unable to meet with the Deputy Inspector General, protesters extended their demonstrations to Chattogram’s Khulshi area, launching another blockade from 3 pm.
