The Dhirashram area of Gazipur’s Ward-31 has become nearly deserted following an attack on students on Friday.Fear of police harassment and arrests has driven many residents to flee, leaving most houses locked and the streets largely empty.
Taherul Haque Chowhan, additional commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, confirmed the situation to The Daily Star at 11:30am today.
Earlier on Friday, around a hundred protesters gathered near the house of Mozammel Haque, also president of the district unit AL, at the city’s Dhirashram area at about 10:00pm, according to witnesses.
Soon, an announcement came from the local mosque’s loudspeaker that robbers had attacked the house. When the protesters tried to run away, alleged AL activists caught some of them and beat them up.
During a visit to the area this morning, locked gates were seen, with shattered glass and broken tiles scattered in front of houses. Near one house, bloodstains remained on a mosque wall.
Local shopkeepers, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that AL activists brutally beat protesters that night.
“Anyone who tried to intervene was also attacked,” one said.
A number of residents said police launched a raid that night, arresting several people, sparking further fear. Many fled at dawn.
Kulsum Begum, a 60-year-old said, “After Esha prayers, we suddenly heard the sound of vandalism. The mosque loudspeaker announced a robbery at the minister’s house.”
The mosque has been locked since that night, and no one dares to go for prayers out of fear of “harassment”, she added.
Afia Begum, another resident, said, “Usually, people are out on the streets till late at night, and children play outside. But today, no one is here.”
Local shopkeeper Kamal Hossain said, “The situation has been tense since the attack. Police came this morning but left after a short patrol. No one else is around.”
Residents reported that since the incident, people have avoided gathering near their homes, only coming briefly to assess the situation before leaving.
A total of 43 people were arrested from different parts of Gazipur city over the last 24 hours till today.
On them, 18 people have been arrested over the attack on students at the ancestral home of Mozammel, while 25 others on different other charges.
