Tension Flares in Panchagarh as 23 Injured in Scuffle Between Students and Army

The two-hour blockade caused a massive traffic jam on the highway, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. The demonstrators raised slogans against Indian hegemony and reiterated their 4-point demand including the trial of Hadi’s killers.

The situation took a turn for the worse around 4:00 PM during the concluding speech of the protest. Students alleged that as they were preparing to leave, army personnel launched an unprovoked baton charge to clear the highway. Consequently, at least 23 students, including key coordinators Fazle Rabbi and Mokaddesur Rahman San, were injured and hospitalized. Medical authorities at Panchagarh Modern Sadar Hospital confirmed that most victims suffered "blunt force injuries." While the students condemned the intervention as a direct attack on a peaceful program, the atmosphere in the town remains tense.

Following the incident, Major Adnan Morshed Al Haque, Commander of the Panchagarh Army Camp, visited the spot to de-escalate the situation. He expressed regret over the "unfortunate" incident, stating that the soldiers were merely trying to restore traffic flow to alleviate public suffering, which led to a spontaneous scuffle. He clarified that there was no planned baton charge and invited student representatives for a formal discussion. Although traffic has resumed on the highway, the town remains under close surveillance by security forces to prevent further unrest.