A high-level medical board has been formed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital to oversee the treatment of Nurul Haque, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad.

On Saturday morning, hospital director Brigadier General Md. Asaduzzaman said that Nurul Haque had sustained head injuries and a nasal bone fracture, which caused heavy bleeding the previous night. While the bleeding has since stopped and he has regained consciousness, doctors cannot declare him out of danger until at least 48 hours have passed.

Asaduzzaman further mentioned that the special medical board was constituted on Friday night itself and is scheduled to meet this morning to review his condition and decide on further treatment.

The incident stems from violent clashes on Friday evening in Kakrail, Dhaka, between activists of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) and the Gono Odhikar Parishad. The confrontation broke out when a procession of Gono Odhikar members passed in front of the JaPa central office. Law enforcement intervened with baton charges, during which Nurul Haque and several others were injured.

According to Gono Odhikar Parishad, their march was attacked by JaPa activists. However, JaPa claimed that it was Gono Odhikar activists who initiated the assault.

Later that night, around 10:30 p.m., Gono Odhikar’s General Secretary Rashed Khan told reporters that Nurul Haque and other leaders were preparing for a press briefing at their office in protest of JaPa’s attack. At that time, he alleged, members of the police and army stormed the venue and launched an assault, leaving over a hundred injured, including Nurul Haque, who was severely hurt. Six of them, including the president, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said that security forces had initially urged both sides to remain calm. Despite repeated warnings, some activists resorted to mob violence, attacking law enforcement, organizing a torch procession, throwing stones, and attempting to set fire to property around 9 p.m.

To restore public order, the forces were compelled to use force. ISPR also reported that five army personnel were injured during the incident.