Dhaka, Aug. 30 -- The home ministry has dismissed as fake a viral audio clip that purportedly featured Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury directing police to attack Gono Odhikar Parishad chief Nurul Haque Nur.

In a statement issued on Saturday morning, the ministry condemned the audio, saying it was fabricated.

Nur, a former DUCSU vice-president, was assaulted on Friday during clashes near the Jatiya Party office in Dhaka's Kakrail, with videos circulating online showing him being beaten by police and military personnel.

The Army later said in a statement that its members were deployed only to assist police, adding that five soldiers had been injured. It reaffirmed its "zero tolerance" policy towards "mob violence".

Amid the uproar,...