National Citizen Party joint convener Maulana Ashraf Uddin Mahdi alleged that police violence against madrasa students in Brahmanbaria amounted to serious human rights violations. Speaking after visiting injured students at Jameya Darul Arkam Al Islamia Madrasa on Friday, he said around 50 students were injured and accused some media outlets of obscuring the incident through misinformation.

Mahdi said the incident began on August 19, when examinees from the madrasa asked for noise from a late-night concert at Brahmanbaria Police Lines to be reduced. According to accounts students gave him, police initially lowered the sound but later raised it again. He said students went peacefully to the main gate, where police allowed them inside, and had no intention of causing disorder or forcing entry.

He alleged that the gate was then closed and police launched a sudden attack, including baton charges and gunfire aimed at students’ heads. Mahdi said senior police officials later intervened, CCTV footage was reviewed, and three accused officers were suspended. He thanked officials for accepting the students’ demands and urged journalists to investigate the matter on site and report it responsibly.