Police foil demonstration demanding Sifat’s release, 10 injured

At least 10 people were injured while police allegedly charged baton and foiled a human chain demanding release of Stamford Univesity student Shahedul Islam Sifat at Bamna upazila of Barguna.

Shifat was accompanying retired major Sinha Md Rashed when he was killed in police firing on 31 July. Police arrested Sifat from the spot.

Police, however, denied charging batons on the demonstrators but said they foiled the human chain as the organisers did not take any permission.

Police also said they dispersed the people as they were blocking roads.

Witnesses said a group of people including Sifat’s teachers, classmates, relatives and local people staged a human chain at 12:00pm demanding his unconditional release.

At one point, law enforcement snatched the banners and posters of the demonstrators.

Later the police dispersed them by charging batons in presence of officer-in-charge of Bamna police station Elias Taluker, witnesses said.

Organisers said at least 10 people were injured.

Witnesses said police at the time swear at Sifat’s grandfather and former chairman of Bamna sadar union Md Ayub Ali.

Ayub Ali is the general secretary of Bamna upazila BNP.

OC Elias Talukder said, “They did not take any permission from us to hold the human chain.”

Saying that the human chain was led by a BNP leader, OC added, “They held the demonstration intentionally.”

He also denied that police charged baton on the demonstrators.