In a chaotic anti-drug operation at Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Park, several journalists, university students, and even a police officer ended up injured on Monday evening. The incident has ignited tensions between law enforcement and the media, raising questions about police conduct during routine crackdowns.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Division launched the raid, deploying 60 to 70 officers to flush out suspected drug users lurking in the park’s dark corners after nightfall. Deputy Commissioner Masud described it as a standard drive against narcotics, noting that such operations are commonplace but this one scaled up due to intelligence on gatherings.
Eyewitnesses paint a different picture. Local reporter Kowser Ahmed Ripon from Ajker Patrika recounted how officers first assaulted his colleague Tofayel Ahmed from Banglanews24. Rushing to intervene, Ripon said police snatched his phone and beat him brutally. ‘I asked why they were hitting him, and they turned on me,’ he told reporters later.
Dhaka University anthropology student Naeem Uddin was also caught in the fray. Video footage shows him being thrashed after a verbal exchange with officers. Naeem explained he and friends were leaving a ‘Multi-Language Evening’ event when police confronted them, accusing them of marijuana use despite finding no evidence. ‘They dragged me inside and beat us while we talked,’ he alleged, adding that his phone was confiscated and he was detained without contact for hours.
Police countered that 7-8 individuals were detained briefly to scare them off drugs, not arrested. A senior officer clarified no formal arrests occurred. DC Masud admitted a constable suffered a deep cut above his eye from a sharp object during the scuffle. Regarding journalists, he claimed they weren’t identified as press without visible credentials.
Journalists dismissed this, insisting the attacks were deliberate. The Dhaka Tribune quoted officials emphasizing the park’s reputation as a nighttime drug haven, where users hide in dense foliage. As investigations loom, this clash underscores the fine line between public safety enforcement and civil rights in Bangladesh’s bustling capital.