Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal expressed his condolences for the injury of Siddiqur Rahman, a third year college student at Titumir College.
The minister said: “It is unsure if the boy will retain his vision or not. I have formed a three-person committee to investigate whether the police was at fault for this. If the committee's report is not satisfactory, another committee will be formed to investigate. We will definitely find out who was at fault for this tragic incident. The person responsible will be brought in front of the law.”
The minister made these remarks at a home ministry press conference at the Secretariat. The conference was organised on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2017.
The minister further said: “The Shahbag intersection is very important. The police are ever vigilant to avoid creating a traffic jam at the intersection. They were trying to do exactly that during that time. They will try to break up any gatherings over there, be it the ruling party's or the opposing party's.”
Also Read- DMP boss wonders if tear shell caused Siddiqur’s injuries
On Thursday, students from seven colleges under the Dhaka University organised a rally at the Shahbag intersection, demanding the release of the schedule for their exams. The police used tear gas at the rally to disperse the gathering. Siddiqur was injured during this time, suffering major damage in both eyes. His colleagues then rushed him to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was later transferred to the National Eye Institute.
Police have claimed from the beginning that Siddiqur was injured when stones, bricks and flower pots were being hurled around. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia on Monday questioned whether a tear gas canister lobbed by on-duty policemen, who were trying to disperse a demonstration staged by students of Dhaka University-affiliated colleges demanding exam schedule, actually inflicted injuries in Siddiqur Rahman’s eyes, reports Bangla Tribune. While talking to reporters there, the DMP chief said that if a gas canister had hit Siddiqur, not only his eyes but also his nose and parts of his face would have been damaged.
“Only his eyes have been injured, and not the nose. Hence, we are carrying out an investigation into the matter,” he said.
The government will send Siddiqur to Chennai for better treatment, stated a press release disclosed on Monday.
The incident has sparked intense scrutiny of the police force around the country.This report was first published on the Bangla Tribune
Thursday, April 25, 2024
