At least 20 students of the Institute of Health Economics of Dhaka University were injured after a lessee of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park and his men reportedly attacked them following an altercation over entering the park in Gazipur yesterday.

The incident took place around 12:30pm. On information, police arrested five workers of the park identified as Abdul Latif, 35, Kabir Hossain, 35, Mostofa, 32, Saiful Islam, 38, and Helena, 48.

All the arrestees work for Shafiqur Rahman, one of the lessees of the park.

Syed Abdul Hamid, director of Institute of Health Economics, DU, said a group of 185 students after obtaining special permission for a group tour from the forest department went to visit the park yesterday.

Rahman's staff asked the students for their ID cards but the first year students have not yet been issued with IDs from the university so they showed the staff the admission permission receipt instead.

The men refused to allow the students enter and an altercation followed. The workers beat up the students under the directions of Rahman, who is also the Shreepur Thana unit Swechchhasebak League president, and local Krishok League president Kabir Hossain, Syed said quoting the students.

However, Rahman refuting these allegations said the students attacked him when he tried to stop an altercation between the students and his staff.

Golam Sabur, additional police super of Gazipur, said they have already arrested five people after watching CCTV footage and legal action is being taken against them. 

Tourist police are supposed to be deployed in such tourist zones and when enquired about it Meer Rezaul Haque, additional police super of tourist police (Dhaka zone), said Gazipur district police was scheduled to be on duty in the area on the day.

Mohammad Shahbuddin, assistant conservator of forest, declined any comments over the issue.

A case regarding the incident was under process, till filling of the report yesterday evening.