Students block Ctg-Cox’s Bazar Highway demanding Patiya OC’s removal

Vehicular movement on the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway remained suspended since Wednesday morning as students of the anti-discrimination movement blocked the key route, demanding the removal of the officer-in-charge of Patiya Police Station.

The protesters also laid a siege to Patiya Police Station, protesting alleged attacks on them.

According to a press release from the organisation, a group of students gathered in front of the police station around 10:45pm on Tuesday as part of their scheduled programme to light candles, marking the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising.

At one point, they began pressing police to arrest Dipankar, a leader of the banned Chhatra League faction in Rangamati district.

When police reportedly declined to take action, the students staged a demonstration in front of the police station.

Later, police charged batons on the protesters, triggering a clash that left 11 students injured.

Among the injured, Ashraful Islam Toukir, 21, and Saiful Islam, 17, were taken to Patiya Upazila Health Complex. The rest received first aid.

Toukir said, “We made a request to the police to arrest the leader of the banned Chhatra Leaguer, but police suddenly attacked us without any reason.”

Golam Mawla Mosharraf, regional coordinator of the anti-discrimination movement in southern Chattogram, said, “Instead of arresting known criminals, police are now threatening the movement’s activists. But we will not back down.”

Later, in an emergency press briefing, movement leaders demanded legal action against the police officers involved, including the officer-in-charge (OC) and the sub-inspector (SI) of Patiya Police Station.

They also warned of intensified protests if justice is not served.

Meanwhile, Patiya OC Abu Zahed Md Nazmun Nur said the students brought a leader of the banned Chhatra League to the station and created a mob situation, during which they allegedly assaulted him.

“A scuffle took place with police, leaving 3–4 personnel injured,” he claimed.

In protest against the incident, students blocked the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar Highway, reiterating their demand for the OC’s removal.

But, traffic remained operational through alternative routes.