26 of 54 students arrested after they storm the Secretariat during protest

They had entered the nerve centre of the government to demand re-evaluation of their HSC exams

Police have shown 26 of 54 detained students arrested after they stormed the Secretariat with demands for their Higher Secondary Certificate examinations to be re-evaluated.

“Of the 54 students, 26 have been arrested and the other 28 have been turned over to the custody of their guardians after we received assurances,” said Obaidur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The 26 students are accused of obstructing police work, gathering in the Secretariat area despite a ban, and vandalism, said Khalid Hossain, chief of Shahbagh Police Station.

Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of the Ramna Division, had said on Wednesday night that the detainees would be scrutinised.

A ban on gatherings and protests in the Secretariat area, in front of the Chief Advisor’s Office, and in front of his official residence the State Guest House Jamuna, had been imposed by the DMP commissioner several days ago, said police official Obaidur.

Students who performed poorly in this year’s HSC examinations and demanded a re-evaluation of the results entered the Secretariat around 2:50pm on Wednesday.

Nearly 100 students entered the Secretariat building while chanting slogans.

Police then chased the students, beat them with batons, dispersed the group and detained 54 of them.