11 cases filed against hundreds of unnamed students

A total of 11 cases have been filed with Shahbagh police station against hundreds of unnamed quota reform activists regarding the various programs of the students. 

The plaintiff is the police in nine of those cases while two others were filed by two Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists.

The cases were filed between July 12 and 21, according to a report published in national daily Prothom Alo.

Recently, Law Minister Anisul Haque on Tuesday (July 23) spoke about the cases filed against the protesters while addressing a press conference at his residence in Gulshan

He said, “If they (the quota reform activist) give the information about the cases, if there is a case against general students, then it will be surely looked after. The government will restore the environment of education and ensure the safety and security of all students.”

According to the statements of most of the cases, the agitators disobeyed the request of the police, formed illegal crowd, created riots and obstructed the government work. They pelted the police with bricks. Several members of the police were injured. 

In this regard, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Mohammad Ashraful Islam told the media that to his knowledge no case has been filed citing the name of any student. According to the law, the cases will be investigated and the violators identified and brought to justice.

Sarjis Alam, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, said, "The government has said that the protesting students were not involved in any vandalism and arson. The police complaint contradicts the government's statement. We do not support vandalism and arson. Students have no involvement with vandalism andarson.”