The Police Headquarters urged media outlets to uphold responsible journalism following the release of images depicting law enforcement’s intervention in an anti-rape demonstration in Dhaka.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Police Headquarters asserted that several newspapers had portrayed the police as having obstructed the protest on Tuesday without cause.
According to the police, approximately 60 to 70 individuals from the organisation “Bangladesh Against Rape and Oppression” attempted to march towards Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser.
However, their progress was halted at the Intercontinental Hotel intersection due to security concerns relating to state-owned premises.
Despite repeated appeals from police officers for the demonstrators to disperse to facilitate the free movement of traffic and pedestrians—particularly significant during the holy month of Ramadan—the situation reportedly intensified.
The police claimed that the protesters attempted to breach the barricades and resorted to throwing bricks and using sticks to assault officers.
During the confrontation, the Assistant Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Ramna Zone sustained serious injuries, while five additional officers, including the Deputy Police Commissioner of the Ramna Division, were also hurt.
The statement further noted that the police acted in self-defence only after being attacked—an aspect they believe was absent from the images circulated in the media.
Emphasising the importance of accurate reporting, the Police Headquarters criticised the dissemination of selective images and partial narratives that, in their view, distorted the reality of the incident.
To substantiate their account, the police included video footage of the altercation and called on media outlets to present a balanced and factual portrayal of events.
