DMP Commissioner expresses regret over police action on protesting engineering students

The head of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has expressed regret over police action against engineering students during their march towards the Chief Adviser’s residence, local media report.

Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali visited students demonstrating at Shahbagh on Wednesday evening. He told them an inquiry committee would be formed on Thursday to investigate the incident.

“You are very dear to me. My son is older than you. Your suffering also causes me pain,” he said.

Students have been demonstrating with three main demands: preventing diploma engineers from using the title “engineer,” blocking their promotion to Grade 9, and ensuring graduate engineers are given opportunities for Grade 10 jobs.

They also called for the arrest of those accused of detaining and threatening to kill an engineer in Rangpur.

Mr Ali said he had spoken to the Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner, who assured him that “the accused will be arrested as soon as possible.”

The commissioner also apologised for clashes earlier in the day near Hotel Intercontinental. “For the untoward incident … I am very sorry and I express regret. For today’s incident, I will form an investigation committee tomorrow,” he said.

Tensions have been building since Tuesday, when students blockaded Shahbagh for five hours before announcing a “Long March to Dhaka.”

On Wednesday morning, they again occupied the intersection, halting traffic, before marching towards Jamuna. Police blocked them at the Intercontinental Hotel crossing.

Police used tear gas, sound grenades and batons to disperse demonstrators who tried to break through barricades. Several students and journalists were injured, according to reports.

Authorities at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) condemned the incident in a statement.

Before Mr Ali’s visit, an 11-member student delegation held talks with Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

“What happened to the students was undesirable. For this, a representative of the police will apologise,” Mr Kabir said after the meeting.

He added that the government remained open to dialogue, but warned: “Repeatedly marching towards Jamuna is undesirable.”