5 injured as law enforcers fire shots, sound grenades near Bangabhaban to deter protesters
Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed the matter to The Business Standard
At least five people were injured as law enforcers fired pellet bullets and sound grenades at protesters trying to break the barricades in front of President Mohammed Shahabuddin's official residence Bangabhaban demanding his resignation.
The incident took place around 10pm today (22 October), Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed the matter to The Business Standard.
The people injured by bullets were identified as Faisal Ahmed Bishal, 20, a student of Cumilla Victoria College, businessman Shafiqul Islam Salim, 45, journalist Raju Ahmed, 25, and video journalist Ripon Reza, 28.
Arif Khan, 20, another student of Cumilla Victoria College, was injured in the sound grenade explosion.
All the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment, Inspector Faruk said.
Meanwhile, Hasnat Abdullah, a key coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, told protesters near Bangabhaban that a qualified person will be selected to replace Mohammed Shahabuddin as president within two days.
"Give us two days time as the army chief is currently out of the country. Ousting the president will create a constitutional vacuum. We will hold dialogues with the BNP, Jamaat and other political parties in the next two days and propose a respected person as the president," Hasnat said.
The student leader further said, "Those among the army and policemen who were agents of dictatorship have not returned to work. The neighbouring country wants to show the world that civil war has started here between the people and law enforcers. None of us will fall into this trap."