AC Land's car torched in Cumilla, 50 injured

During the anti-discrimination student movement at Cumilla's Chandina, there were several attacks on the protesting students by police and Awami League leaders and activists. At least six people were shot, and over fifty students were injured. Additionally, miscreants torched the AC Land's car amid the student protests. These incidents occurred on Saturday (August 3), from morning to noon.

The injured include Sourav Chakraborty, a fourth-year student at Cumilla Government College; Asif, a first-year student; Arfan, a ninth-grade student at Cumilla Modern High School; and Mitul, an eleventh-grade student at Cumilla Ispahani School and College. Sourav has been transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, according to Cumilla Civil Surgeon Nasima Akhter.

She also stated, “Six of the injured have been admitted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital, three to Gomti Hospital, and two to Cumilla Government General Hospital. The others received first aid and went home.”

As part of their announced program, the anti-discrimination student movement protesters assembled at the police line in Cumilla city on the afternoon of Saturday (August 3). During the demonstration, leaders from BCL and Awami Jubo League attacked them with sticks and threw bullets and cocktails. At least fifty students were injured in the confrontation.

Earlier in the morning, students gathered in front of Cumilla District School for a cultural program. Later, they staged a sit-in at Kandirpar Pubali Square. During the sit-in, leaders and activists from the metropolitan Awami League and its affiliated organizations chased the students, and the police fired several rounds of blank bullets. In response, the students left Pubali Square and repositioned themselves at the police line intersection in the city.

At around 11:45 am, during the highway blockade, approximately two thousand miscreants mixed with some students from Debidwar Upazila’s educational institutions. Chandina Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Soumya Chowdhury found himself caught among the protesters. The angry crowd quickly vandalized AC Land's car, pouring petrol on it and setting it ablaze. AC Land and his driver escaped unharmed by swiftly exiting the vehicle.

Chandina Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Jaber Md Shoaib said, “Some students were initially part of the movement, but they left the highway after we spoke with them. The vandalism of AC Land's car and its subsequent burning was carried out by miscreants, not students.”

Cumilla District Superintendent of Police Saidur Islam stated, "There were no fatalities in Cumilla related to these incidents. The police ensured the safety of the students, and around 200 students and parents who were caught in the police line during the clash have been safely escorted home."