At least five members of the Madaripur district Anti-discrimination Student Movement were injured in an attack on Tuesday (June 10) night in Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj while returning from a memorial visit to families of victims of last July’s protest crackdown.

The assault took place around 8:00 pm in Tekerhat Uttarpar, a border area between Madaripur and Gopalganj districts. 

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, a confrontation erupted when members of the student group confronted local transport workers accused of verbally harassing female activists.

The victims, who had stopped at a roadside restaurant for tea, alleged that staff from the Mizan Paribahan transport company began harassing female members of the delegation. 

When the students protested, a scuffle broke out, which escalated into a physical assault by a group linked to the transport workers.

Among those injured were the movement’s chief organiser Ashikur Rahman Hridoy, joint member secretary Ashikur Tamim Ashiq, joint convener Mithila Farzana Nila, and activist Kiran Akhter. 

They were later taken to Madaripur 250-bed District Hospital, where two were admitted for further treatment.

Dr. Akhil Sarkar, an emergency physician at the hospital, confirmed: “Five individuals were brought in with injuries sustained in an altercation. Two were admitted in stable condition; the remaining three were treated and discharged.”

Kiran Akhter, one of the injured, said: “I never imagined we would be attacked like this. This happened because we stood up against eve-teasing. We want justice.”

Leaders of the student movement claim the attack was premeditated and linked to their activism.

“There is CCTV footage clearly identifying the assailants. We demand their immediate arrest and exemplary punishment,” said Masum Billah, Madaripur district member secretary of the movement.

Local police confirmed they have detained one individual in connection with the incident.

“One suspect has been apprehended, and operations are underway to identify and arrest the others involved,” said Golam Mostafa, officer-in-charge of Muksudpur Police Station. “A case will be filed as the attack poses a threat to public order.”

SMS/