Four hundred Ansar members are in police custody

At least 50 people were injured in the clash between Ansar members and students in the capital's Secretariat area. Among them is Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement.

The clash took place after 9 pm on Sunday (August 25) in the Secretariat area. At one stage, the protesting Ansar members ran away after being chased by the students. Many are seen taking off their uniforms and running away. At this time, the law and order forces have taken custody of more than four hundred Ansar members including two women members from the Secretariat area.

The members taken into police custody were taken to nearby police stations including Shahbagh, Ramna, Paltan and Motijheel in Dhaka. According to a police source, a case may be filed against them in Shahbag police station. Until 2.30 am, the arrested Ansar members from the Secretariat gate were taken to different police stations in police vans.

Deputy Commissioner of Ramana Division of DMP. Sarwar said that more than four hundred general Ansar members have been taken into police custody. Further decision regarding them will be informed.

At around two o'clock in the night in Sarzmin, it was seen that the members of Ansar who took part in the movement took a position inside the secretariat to avoid the attack of the students. They were brought out from there and made to stand on the road. Army personnel were on alert around them for their safety.

Earlier on Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm, Ansar members protested by barricading the road in the Press Club and Kadam Foara area. Later they blocked the Secretariat Road from Zero Point and stopped traffic. Meanwhile, a section of them entered the secretariat and started agitation. In the last afternoon, a delegation of 10 members held a meeting with three advisers including the Home Affairs Adviser. Some of their demands including canceling their rest leave were accepted there.

In this, a section of ordinary Ansar members announced to suspend the movement and return to work. Later, another part continued the agitation by announcing that they will not return home from the secretariat until the job is nationalized. In the meantime, they sat in a meeting with five advisors again at 8 pm. Even then, not being satisfied with the decision of the advisers, he announced to continue the movement. In this, the officials and employees who were blocked in the secretariat since morning got stuck. After 9 o'clock in the last night these officers and employees were rescued from the secretariat on the call of the coordinators.

At 10:52 p.m., the first ambulance came out of the secretariat through the front gate of building number one. Then the cars carrying officials and employees started to come out one by one. At this time, army personnel and agitating students on both sides of the gate provided security to them. Meanwhile, while leaving the secretariat, the officials and employees had a look of panic on their faces, but they waved their hands and congratulated the students.

Meanwhile, at around 10:30 PM, Adviser Nahid and Coordinator Sarjis Alam came to the exit gate next to building number one of the secretariat and addressed the protesting students. At this time, they called upon the students to remain calm and said that the Ansar members who attacked the students are demanded to be arrested by night. They will face the law.