Arson at July martyr Sagar Chattar in Mymensingh, indefinite hunger strike over arrests
An arson attack has taken place at the July Shaheed Sagar Chattar on Sarda Ghosh Road in Mymensingh city. Miscreants set fire to the chattar after 1am on Sunday night. The steel memorial plaque there has been burnt and discoloured.
Former leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have begun an indefinite hunger strike demanding the quick arrest of those involved in the incident.
ASI Sheikh Habibur Rahman, duty officer of Kotwali Model Police Station, confirmed the arson on Monday morning.
Soon after the incident, Anwar Hossain Manju, former convener of the Mymensingh district Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Khalilur Rahman, former member secretary, and Ali Hossain, convener of the district Chhatra Shakti, began their hunger strike sitting beneath the burnt memorial plaque.
Police and local sources said that in the darkness of the night, the miscreants chanted the slogan "Joy Bangla", set fire to Sagar Chattar and quickly left the scene.
On receiving the news, Kotwali Model Police informed the Fire Service and went to the spot.
At the hunger strike site, Ali Hossain, convener of the district Chhatra Shakti, alleged that the Awami League leaders and workers who did not flee are still in Mymensingh under the administration's protocol, and this incident happened because of their involvement.
The arson at Sagar Chattar has created fresh concern over the safety of those who took part in the July movement.
Ali Hossain said, "Our indefinite hunger strike will continue until those involved in this incident are arrested quickly."
It is worth noting that on 19 July 2024, during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Redowan Hossain Sagar was shot around 7pm near the Mintu College area of the city amid a chase and counter-chase.
He died on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Later, the protesters declared the spot "Sagar Chattar" in his memory and installed a steel memorial plaque there bearing his photograph.
