July 15 attacks: A complaint against 420 BCL activists was lodged with the Shahbagh police

A complaint against 420 leaders and activists of the Chhatra League was lodged at the Shahbagh police station yesterday in connection with the July 15 attacks on quota reform protesters at Dhaka University.

This follows a case filed on October 21 by members of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, which named 391 leaders and activists of the BCL, Awami League and Jubo League.

The complaint filed yesterday contained 220 new names, including those of women leaders and activists of BCL, a student organization that supports AL. It was submitted by Arman Hossein, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

After filing the complaint, Arman, Umama Fatema, spokesperson of the movement, and coordinator Abdul Kader briefed reporters at the Shahbag police station.

Police were yet to register the complaint as a case till the filing of this report at around 8.30 pm.

Over a thousand unnamed BCL, AL and Jubo League activists have been charged in a case filed on October 21. The complaint, filed yesterday, included “150-200” unnamed people.

Yesterday’s complaint names Saddam Hussain, president of BCL, Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, secretary general of the organization, Mazharul Kabir Shayan, president of DU unit of BCL, and Tanbir Hasan Shaikat, secretary general of the same unit.

On July 15, BCL activists attacked protesters during protests against quota reforms, allegedly on the orders of AL Secretary General Obaidul Quader.

“The complaint will be taken up as a case after verification,” said Shahabuddin Shaheen, officer-in-charge of Shahbag police.

In addition, detectives yesterday arrested Khadiza Akter Urmi, president of Dhaka University’s Shamsun Nahar Hall BCL unit, and organizing secretary of Surja Sen Hall unit Moazzem H. Rakib Sarker in Dhaka, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP.

On Thursday, the police registered a case with the Dhanmondi police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act, charging 11 BCL leaders.

On October 23, the interim government banned BCL amid demands from the student movement against discrimination.