Monday’s anti-drug initiative at Suhrawardy Park in Dhaka descended into a brawl, with journalists, Dhaka University students, and police personnel among the casualties. The event exposes raw frictions in the capital’s battle against narcotics amid public spaces.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna unit, under DC Masud, deployed a large force of 60-70 to patrol the park’s after-dark hideouts. ‘It’s a regular anti-drug drive against those lurking in the dense, dark areas,’ Masud explained, noting this iteration was amplified. A splinter group of officers stumbled upon DU students allegedly using marijuana, leading to a heated exchange and 7-8 brief detentions for scare tactics.
Injured parties include reporters Kowser Ripon (Ajker Patrika) and Tofayel Ahmed (Banglanews24). Ripon witnessed Tofayel’s initial attack and rushed in, only to lose his phone and endure blows. Viral video shows DU student Naeem Uddin thrashed after police confrontation. ‘We were discussing an event and exiting when they accused us without evidence,’ Naeem stated, detailing phone confiscation and extended station hold without calls.
One officer suffered a severe eye laceration from a pointed weapon in the melee. Authorities clarified no arrests, just deterrence, and claimed unawareness of journalists’ status due to absent credentials. Media rejects this narrative, labeling it a deliberate strike.
As per local coverage, the park’s nocturnal reputation fuels such ops. With injuries on all sides and dueling accounts, the clash prompts scrutiny of police methods, press protections, and youth vulnerabilities in Bangladesh’s urban enforcement landscape.