In a disturbing escalation of political violence, Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur—widely seen as a rising face of youth-led opposition politics in Bangladesh—was severely beaten during a clash in Kakrail on Friday evening. Eyewitness videos circulating online show Nur being targeted and assaulted by law enforcement personnel, including members of the Bangladesh Army and police, raising serious concerns about political repression and abuse of power.
The Clash: From Protest to Brutality
The incident unfolded between 6:15pm and 7:30pm near the Jatiya Party’s central office, where Gono Odhikar activists were marching from Paltan after a protest demanding a ban on political groups allegedly aligned with the ruling Awami League. As the procession passed Kakrail, bricks and stones were hurled at demonstrators, triggering a violent confrontation.
According to Rashed Khan, General Secretary of Gono Odhikar, the initial attack came from Jatiya Party supporters. But what followed was far more alarming: “Police and army personnel launched a second wave of assault. Nur was injured in that phase—he was clearly targeted,” Rashed told reporters from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where Nur and five others were admitted with serious injuries.
📹 Video Evidence Sparks Outrage
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Footage shared on social media shows Nur being surrounded and struck repeatedly by uniformed personnel. The brutality has sparked nationwide protests, with student bodies, civil society groups, and opposition parties condemning the attack. Demonstrations erupted in Chattogram, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Dhaka University, demanding accountability and judicial investigation.
Army and Police Response
The Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) department issued a statement claiming that demonstrators attempted to incite unrest and attacked law enforcers with bricks and torches. The ISPR confirmed that five army members were injured and justified the use of force as necessary to protect public safety.
However, critics argue that the response was disproportionate and politically motivated. “This wasn’t crowd control—it was a targeted assault on a political figure,” said Law Adviser Asif Nazrul, who visited Nur at DMCH and later condemned the attack in a public statement.
Political Implications
Nurul Haque Nur, a former VP of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has emerged as a vocal critic of government policies and a symbol of youth resistance. His targeting by state forces raises troubling questions about the shrinking space for dissent in Bangladesh.
The BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh have all condemned the incident, while the interim government has announced a judicial probe. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed that the administration is taking the matter seriously and will ensure medical support for Nur.
This incident marks what appears to be the first time in Bangladesh’s recent history that active-duty army personnel have directly and aggressively assaulted a political party leader—Nurul Haque Nur—without any clear provocation or armed confrontation. The footage and eyewitness accounts suggest that Nur was not only targeted but beaten with alarming force, raising serious concerns about the professionalism and neutrality of the deployed forces. Such conduct by uniformed personnel undermines public trust in the military’s constitutional role and signals a dangerous shift in civil-military relations. A thorough, independent investigation must be launched to identify who authorized this deployment and whether orders were given to use force against unarmed political activists. Those responsible must be held accountable—not only to uphold justice for Nur and others injured, but to preserve the integrity of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions.