At least 30 injured as police, madrasa students clash over cultural programme in Brahmanbaria
At least 30 people, including madrasa students and police personnel, were injured in Brahmanbaria after a dispute over loud music at a police cultural programme escalated into clashes, stone-throwing and a baton charge late Tuesday.
The violence broke out at around 11:30 pm at the district Police Lines in Paschim Medda, where police had organised a cultural programme marking the visit of Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, according to The Daily Star newspaper and other local sources.
The programme continued after the DIG left the venue.
Students from the nearby Jamia Darul Arkam Al-Islamia Madrasa approached the Police Lines and asked organisers to lower the volume, saying they had examinations the following morning.
Students said the volume was initially reduced but was later raised again, prompting an argument with police personnel.
The confrontation escalated when a larger group of madrasa students, reportedly numbering more than 100, entered the Police Lines.
Police then used batons to disperse the group, while students allegedly threw bricks and stones at police, according to witnesses. A chase and counter-chase followed.
At least 30 people from both sides were injured and taken to the 250-bed Brahmanbaria General Hospital and other medical facilities.
Students alleged that police attacked them after they went to complain about the music. They demanded punishment for the officers involved and warned of further protests.
Police, however, described the confrontation as arising from a misunderstanding.
Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf held an emergency meeting at around 12:30 am Wednesday with Maulana Sajidur Rahman, founder of Jamia Darul Arkam Al-Islamia Madrasa and secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
Representatives identifying themselves as members of the Brahmanbaria Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad presented several demands during the meeting.
Among them was a written undertaking that music programmes would no longer be organised at the district Police Lines.
They also demanded disciplinary action, including dismissal, against those responsible for attacking students or ordering the baton charge, treatment and compensation for those injured, and an unconditional apology from the superintendent of police.
The representatives set a 10:00 am Wednesday deadline for their demands and threatened tougher programmes if they were not met.
A video of the meeting later circulated widely on social media. Talking with Daily Waadaa, SP Abdur Rouf said they have already collected the CCTV footage and they would examine this “thoroughly” and they will take “action against anyone found responsible.”
Zila Parishad Administrator Sirajul Islam Siraj also visited injured students at the hospital and assured them of financial assistance and advanced treatment where necessary, according to the police superintendent.
The confrontation comes less than three months after Brahmanbaria became the centre of a national dispute over cultural activities when Qawmi madrasa students opposed screenings of filmmaker Tanim Noor's Bonolota Express.
The Brahmanbaria Film Society had planned to screen the government-approved film at Annada Government High School on May 30 as part of its “Bhatghumer Cinema Adda” programme.
Members of the Brahmanbaria District Qawmi Chhatra Oikya Parishad campaigned on social media against the screening, with religious leaders and students alleging that such events promoted obscenity and ideas contrary to Islam.
The Film Society eventually suspended the screening after the venue withdrew permission amid fears of unrest.
An attempt by another group to screen Bonolota Express later that day in Taltala village of Kasba upazila was also halted. Police went to the venue over security concerns, and organisers abandoned the event following discussions with officers.
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