RAB spokesperson Mufti Mahmud Khan told bdnews24.com that there had been a ‘misunderstanding’ after the student’s 'cloak' got stuck with the RAB constable’s ‘gun’.
“The two sides settled the issue after discussion,” he said and termed the incident a ‘petty’ one.
Witnesses said Jahar Lal Roy, a student of Dhaka Community Medical College and General Secretary of Chhatra Union’s Dhaka metropolitan unit, was walking towards Shahbagh through the street in front of the TSC around 3pm.
When his shawl got stuck in the epaulette of Zia’s uniform, he turned around to say sorry, but the RAB constable responded with a slap on his face, according to the witnesses.
Chhatra Union’s Dhaka university unit President Tuhin Kanti Das told bdnews24.com that RAB Constable Zia became angry and assaulted Jahar even though the student leader had nothing to do with the shawl getting tangled with the law enforcer’s uniform.
The group of students approached Zia on the spot and asked for his explanation, Tuhin said.
They protested against Zia’s version of the incident that Jahar had ‘pushed him and pulled his gun’.
Officials from the university administration and Azizul Islam, in charge of the RAB unit patrolling the area at the time, apologised for the incident and assured the students of taking action against Zia, Tuhin said.
Later, Chhatra Union President GM Zilani Shuvo and General Secretary Liton Nandi demanded removal of Zia from RAB in a statement.
Dhaka University Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani said he had heard about the incident.
“Chhatra Union said they would file a written complaint. I’ll check the issue then,” he added.
