Patiya Police OC withdrawn amid protests

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Patiya Police Station, Abu Zayed Md. Nazmun Noor, has been withdrawn following protests led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizen Party.

The order was issued late Wednesday night by the Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) office. Confirming the decision, Chattogram District Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam said Nazmun Noor has been reassigned to the Range DIG office.

The unrest began Tuesday when BAICHA and NCP activists brought Dipankar Dey, Vice President of Rangamati District Chhatra League, to Patiya Police Station. They demanded he be shown arrested in a case and produced before court. However, police found no case against him after verifying his identity and refused to detain him. This sparked a verbal confrontation, which escalated into a protest at the police station and subsequent clashes with police.

On Wednesday morning, protesters laid siege to the Patiya Police Station and blocked the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway. Later, they surrounded the Range DIG office in Khulshi area of Chattogram city and blocked Zakir Hossain Road. The blockade was lifted after senior police officials assured the demonstrators.