Shahbagh turns into battlefield as police charge baton on protesters

Capital's Shahbagh intersection and surrounding areas have once again turned into a battlefield amid the ongoing movement demanding justice for the murder of Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi. Police lobbed sound grenades and charged batons on the protesters to disperse them.

The chase and counter-chase took place in Shahbagh area around 7:30 pm on Friday (February 6).

Eyewitnesses said that after the clash in the afternoon, the protesters gathered again in Shahbagh in the evening. At this time, as their tension with the police increased, the police charged baton and lobbed sound grenades to control the situation. As a result, the protesters dispersed in all directions.

Earlier in the afternoon, leaders and activists of the Inqilab Mancha started their march towards Jamuna, the residence of the chief adviser, demanding an investigation into the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi and the trial of those involved in the murder. They announced that they would move towards Jamuna after taking a position at the Hotel Intercontinental intersection, but the police stopped them.

When the protesters tried to break the barricade and move forward around 3:15 pm, the police dispersed them by firing water cannons and tear gas. Later, when the protesters tried to disperse at the Bangla Motor intersection, they again exchanged chases and threw bricks at the police.

After the incident, traffic was disrupted in Shahbagh, Bangla Motor and the surrounding areas and panic spread. Additional police were deployed to control the situation.