At least 40 injured as Ansar members, students clash at Secretariat
Those who attacked students will be identified and brought to justice, says Adviser Nahid
A clash broke out between the members of Bangladesh Ansar and students tonight (25 August) after Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinator Hasnat Abdullah sent out a message that he and some others were being held in front of the Secretariat.
At least 40, mostly students, were injured during the clash.
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam said those who attacked students will be identified and action will be taken against them.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"Those trying to create unrest in the country will be brought to justice," he also said while addressing students who gathered near the Secretariat after the clash ended.
Earlier tonight, Ansar members, protesting in demand of nationalisation of their jobs, had blocked the secretariat, with government officials and Anti-Discrimination Student Movement members, including Nahid, Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, inside the building.
Later, at 8:35pm Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinator Hasnat urged students to gather near the Raju Memorial Sculpture in Dhaka University, saying he and others have been detained in the Secretariat despite complying with the Ansar's demands.
He wrote, "Everyone, come to Raju. Autocracy is trying to return through the Ansar. All of us have been held in the Secretariat despite their demands being accepted."
Shortly after Hasnat's Facebook posts, thousands of students from Dhaka University gathered near the sculpture and brought out a procession towards the Secretariat.
At around 9pm, students started gathering around the Secretariat area and a clash ensued between the Ansar members and the students.
Some students were severely beaten by Ansar members, our correspondent reports.
In the comment section of his Facebook post, Hasnat alleged that former Ansar director general Major General AKM Aminul Haque instigated the blockade of the Secretariat gates despite Ansar's demands being accepted earlier.
At around 10pm, thousands of students took positions from Doyel Chattar to the Secretariat.
The road in front of the Secretariat was then occupied by students.
Meanwhile, all Ansar members fled within 30 minutes of the clash. There were more than 10,000 Ansar members there.
At around 10:20pm, Adviser Nahid Islam, and movement coordinators Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam were seen getting out of the Secretariat building after being blocked inside.
Earlier today, Ansar members agreed to suspend their ongoing protest and return to work following discussions with Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam.
The announcement came after a delegation of Ansar personnel, led by Nasir Miah, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Ansar Members, met with the adviser at the secretariat to voice their grievances.
A preliminary decision was made during the meeting to revoke the six-month rest rule currently imposed on Ansar personnel, a key demand of the protesters.
Regarding the demand for the nationalisation of their jobs, the home adviser assured the delegation that the matter would be "considered based on the report of the recommendation committee".
Ansar personnel had blockaded all five gates of the Secretariat, demanding the nationalisation of their positions. The protesters claimed they have been subjected to prolonged discrimination and expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises to address their concerns.
