Police Brutality in Bangladesh: Unarmed Students Attacked Near Secretariat – Examining Loyalty to Sheikh Hasina’s Regime

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Date: January 7, 2025
Time: Around 2:45 PM

In a shocking display of state-sponsored violence, unarmed students from Primeasia University were brutally attacked by police near the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka. The students were peacefully protesting against tuition fee hikes and demanding basic improvements in campus facilities when law enforcement officers, armed with batons and firearms, unleashed an unprovoked and ruthless assault.

The Attack

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic and horrifying. “The students were standing there peacefully, chanting slogans. Suddenly, the police started charging at them with batons. Some officers fired blanks into the air, and many students were beaten indiscriminately,” said one onlooker. The unarmed protesters, overwhelmed by the aggression, were left defenseless against the police’s disproportionate use of force.

Video footage of the incident shows students running for safety as police chased them, striking them with batons and using tear gas to disperse the crowd. The sheer scale of the brutality left several students severely injured, with some requiring hospitalization. One eyewitness remarked, “It was like a war zone—police attacking unarmed young people as if they were criminals. This is state terror.”

Police Response: A Familiar Pattern of Repression

The actions of the police are reminiscent of the dark days of authoritarian rule in Bangladesh, where law enforcement was used as a tool to suppress dissent and intimidate civilians. Critics argue that the police have become increasingly emboldened in recent years, acting with impunity under the protection of political authorities.

Human rights advocates have strongly condemned the incident, labeling it an abuse of power and a blatant violation of the students’ right to peaceful protest. “The police in Bangladesh are behaving like enforcers of a regime, not protectors of the people. Today, they targeted students—tomorrow, it could be anyone,” said a spokesperson for a Dhaka-based rights group.

A Growing Crisis in Bangladesh’s Education Sector

This violent crackdown is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of neglect and repression faced by students in Bangladesh. Tuition hikes, inadequate facilities, and the lack of accountability from university administrations have led to widespread discontent. However, rather than addressing these legitimate concerns, the government has chosen to silence dissent through brute force.

Public Outrage and Calls for Justice

News of the attack has sparked outrage across the country, with citizens taking to social media to condemn the police’s actions. The hashtag #JusticeForStudents began trending within hours of the incident. Many are calling for an independent investigation into the police’s conduct and demanding accountability from the authorities responsible.

“This isn’t just about students; this is about the erosion of our fundamental rights,” said a prominent activist. “If peaceful protests are met with violence, where can citizens turn to make their voices heard?”

What Needs to Change

The violent repression of unarmed students near the Secretariat underscores the urgent need for reform in Bangladesh’s law enforcement system. The government must take immediate steps to hold the officers involved accountable, ensure the protection of citizens’ rights, and create a dialogue to address the grievances of students.

If the state continues to use violence to silence dissent, it risks further alienating the very people it is supposed to serve. The students’ bravery in standing up for their rights should be met with dialogue and understanding—not with batons and bullets.

Are These Police Officers Loyal to the Former Dictator Sheikh Hasina?

A growing question among observers is whether the police involved in this brutality are remnants of the authoritarian era of Sheikh Hasina, and if their actions represent an act of revenge against the youth who continue to challenge oppressive governance.

Sheikh Hasina’s tenure was marked by a culture of repression where dissent was systematically crushed, and law enforcement agencies operated with unchecked authority. Many of the officers who carried out her directives remain in positions of power, raising concerns about the continuity of her authoritarian policies even after her departure.

Some political analysts suggest that the excessive force used against students might not only be a reflection of poor law enforcement policies but also a deliberate attempt to suppress any uprising reminiscent of the mass student protests seen during Hasina’s regime. A political science professor, requesting anonymity, commented:
“The brutality on display here appears deeply personal. The students represent a generation that has long resisted the remnants of autocratic rule. It’s almost as if the state machinery sees them as a threat to its survival.”

The question of revenge looms large. Are these attacks fueled by a lingering fear among the ruling elite of losing control, just as authoritarian regimes fear their downfall? Or are these officers—hardened by their years of suppressing dissent under Hasina—acting on an ingrained culture of state violence?

Historical Parallels

This incident brings to mind the violent crackdowns during the anti-quota reform protests and the road safety movements of 2018, where unarmed students faced similar brutality. Many of the police officers involved in those crackdowns reportedly received rewards and promotions, incentivizing a culture of unchecked impunity.

Need for a Transparent Investigation

To address these concerns, human rights organizations and civil society groups are calling for a transparent investigation into the identities and allegiances of the officers involved. Were these individuals actively part of Sheikh Hasina’s administration’s enforcement apparatus, and do they continue to act under its shadow? The answers to these questions could shed light on whether Bangladesh is still grappling with the legacies of authoritarian rule.

The students’ demands for justice now go beyond the immediate injuries they suffered. They are fighting against a system that seems unwilling to change—a system still haunted by the ghosts of its past.

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