Chattogram child assault attempt allegations triggered violent protests in the city after police faced a nearly six-hour standoff while trying to take an accused man into custody in the Bakalia area.
The incident took place on Thursday afternoon and continued until around 10:15 PM in Chairmanghata under Bakalia Police Station. Police reportedly used tear gas shells, sound grenades, and blank shots in an attempt to disperse angry crowds who demanded that the accused be handed over to them.
According to police and local sources, officers detained Monir Hossain around 4 PM over allegations of attempting to sexually assault a four-year-old child. As police tried to transport him to the station, hundreds of local residents surrounded the police vehicle and demanded immediate punishment.
The situation quickly escalated as protesters blocked the road, chanted slogans, and refused to allow police to leave the area with the suspect. Additional police forces were later deployed to control the unrest.
Protesters Set Police Vehicle on Fire
Around 8 PM, police fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. Protesters allegedly responded by throwing bricks and stones at officers. Police later fired blank shots in an effort to regain control of the situation.
Relatives of the child expressed anger over the incident, with one family member reportedly saying they wanted capital punishment for the accused and did not trust the legal process.
At around 10:15 PM, a power outage struck the area, and police used the darkness as an opportunity to secretly move the suspect from a building into custody. After the accused was removed, angry protesters set a police vehicle on fire and continued demonstrations by blocking roads and burning objects on the streets.
Local residents told reporters they feared the accused could later secure bail and avoid proper punishment due to delays in the judicial process.
Meanwhile, videos circulating on social media appeared to show the accused confessing to the crime while in police custody. However, the authenticity of those videos has not been independently verified.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Media) Aminur Rashid said police used tear gas, sound grenades, and blank shots for self-defense and to control the crowd. He confirmed that the suspect had been safely removed from the area but did not disclose his current location.
Police officials urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and said efforts were ongoing to calm the situation.
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