It’s a misunderstanding: DB

The police have denied the allegation of blindfolding three leaders of quota reform movement.

Joint commissioner of the detective branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Abdul Baten at a press briefing on Tuesday claimed that the three top organisers of the quota reform movement whom the law enforcers in plainclothes picked up on Monday were not blindfolded.

The DB police organised the press briefing at its Minto Road office in the capital, ostensibly to defend themselves with regard to Monday’s incident of picking up of three top organisers of the quota reform movement.

Asked about the reason to blindfold the students, Baten said, “The students [quota protesters] have claimed that they were blindfolded - it is a misunderstanding.

“There is no specific allegation against the three students. They demanded withdrawal of cases against them, but there is no relation between their demand and the incident of taking them to the DB office. They [the trio] will be able to explain why they raised such allegation.” 

Claiming that the police have no position with regard to the quota movement, the police officer said, “We’re investigating the incident of attack on the residence of Dhaka University vice chancellor. As we don’t know the students personally, we are calling in some of them to DB office as part of our investigations."

Three leading organisers of the quota reform movement - Nurul Haque, Rashed Khan and Faruk Hossain - were picked up in filmy style by law enforcers in plainclothes on Monday.

The trio was picked up from in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital gate when they reached the area after a press conference on DU campus where they demanded withdrawal of cases filed against the quota protesters within two days.

Read more: Top quota protesters 'taken to DB office blindfolded'