ADC Harun withdrawn after ‘beating up two BCL leaders at police station'

Some police personnel, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Division Harun-or-Rashid, allegedly brutally assaulted two central Chhatra League leaders inside the Shahbagh Police Station last night.

This afternoon, Harun was withdrawn from Ramna Division police and attached to public order management, Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP, told.

The BCL leaders are: Central Organising Secretary and Dhaka University's (DU's) Fazlul Haque Hall unit President Anwar Hossain Naeem, and Central Science Affairs Secretary and Shahidullah Hall unit General Secretary Sharif Ahmed Munim.

Another BCL leader told on condition of anonymity that officials from DU's proctorial department went to the police station and got them released following "negotiations".

The two BCL leaders were then taken to a private hospital for treatment, he said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq told today that he heard about the incident, and that a departmental investigation is underway to know what actually happened.

Our correspondent tried reaching ADC Harun for comment. He did not answer his official phone, and when contacted on his personal number, Harun answered, but then hung up without any comment upon hearing our correspondent's identity. He has not answered the phone since then.

The incident stirred resentment among BCL leaders and many took to social media to protest, demanding justice.

Describing the incident, the BCL leader who spoke to said Harun and a female police official were at BIRDEM General Hospital yesterday evening. Around 8:30pm, the female official's husband, a BCS cadre officer, went there along with two BCL leaders and a quarrel ensued between the ADC and the husband.

The ADC called members of police and took the two BCL leaders to Shahbagh Police Station around 9:00pm where police tortured them for about an hour, the BCL leader said.

There have been previous allegations of Harun using brute force on peaceful protesters.