Several progressive student and citizen organizations have jointly declared a new phase of agitation demanding urgent police reform in Bangladesh. The announcement came on Thursday afternoon at a press conference held at Soloshahar, Chattogram.
The protest was initiated by activists from the Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, National Citizen Party (NCP), United Peoples Bangladesh, Students’ Federation, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Student Rights Council, and the Students Alliance for Democracy (SAD).
Jubairul Hasan Arif, regional supervisor of the NCP Chattogram unit, called for a protest rally at 6 PM from Soloshahar, in response to growing concerns around recent police misconduct, including the arrest of a Chhatra League activist in Patiya and public outrage demanding the removal of the local Officer-in-Charge (OC).
Following the press conference, a protest march began from Soloshahar Gate No. 2, moved through CDA Avenue, and concluded with a gathering at the Chattogram Railway Station. From the rally, leaders announced two phases of further action: an online campaign on Friday, and leaflet distribution across the city on Saturday.
Speaking at the press conference, Arif Sohel, Joint Secretary of the NCP, stated:
“As citizens awaken to the orchestrated violence by Chhatra League and Jubo League, and attempt to defend themselves, they are being labeled as a ‘mob.’ This is a dangerous distortion, and the police are using it to justify brutal suppression.”
He further criticized the government’s Police Reform Commission, saying:
“The commission is lost in fantasies about the future while ignoring the present. Officers involved in shootings are still in active duty, and ruling party cadres continue to receive shelter and impunity.”
NCP’s Joint Chief Organizer, Emon Syed, also expressed deep dissatisfaction with the authorities’ broken promises.
“They had assured us that two of our four demands would be met by today. Instead, the OC was merely transferred and brought into the DIG range,this is no punishment, it’s a promotion.”
He added:
“Let it be clear: the police cannot revert to their old BAKSHAL-style authoritarianism. The July Uprising has created irreversible public expectations. Real reform must be based on those.”
The Four-Point Demand
- Permanent Dismissal and Prosecution of the Patiya OC.
- Immediate Removal of the Chattogram SP from duty.
- A Clear Roadmap for Police Reform from the interim government.
- Zero Tolerance Policy for political patronage: Any OC found to be directly or indirectly protecting members of the Awami League, Jubo League, or Chhatra League must be identified and removed based on verifiable evidence.
Protesters stated that the core objective of their movement is to build public awareness about the need for a depoliticized, transparent, and citizen-oriented policing system—and to resist the abuse of power by state institutions.
Meanwhile, the Chattogram Range DIG Office has formed a three-member committee to investigate the Patiya incident. The committee visited Patiya Police Station yesterday, taking statements from both student leaders and the police officers on duty that night.
