At least 19 quota protesters and pedestrians were killed and several hundred protesters were injured across the country including Dhaka in clashes with quota protesters, law enforcers and activists of ruling party men on Thursday during the ongoing quota reform movement.
The students protesting for quota reform clashed with the police-RAB and Chhatra League-Jubo League across the country.
Of them, 14 were in Dhaka. Clashes killed at least six people including a journalist on Thursday in the Jatrabari-Shanir Akhra area, four in Dhaka's Uttara, two in Badda, one each in Dhanmondi, Savar and Madaripur, two each in Chattogram and Narsingdi.
Around 2,500 people were injured in the capital, many of them suffering shotgun pellet injuries, sources at different Dhaka hospitals said. Many job aspirants and students were bullet-hit across the country. The death toll may rise as many of the injured are in critical condition.
At least four people were killed during a clash between quota protesters and police in Dhaka's Uttara on Thursday. Over 50 injured were rushed to Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Govt Hospital, and four among them were declared dead, said Mizanur Rahman, Superintendent of the hospital. He said the injured include police members.
Earlier, Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital sources said around 500 people took treatment at the hospital following the clash in Uttara area.
A student of Dhaka Residential Model College was killed during a clash between quota protesters and police along with Jubo League men in Dhaka's Dhanmondi area on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Farhan Faiyaaz, 17. Osman Ghani, Assistant Manager of City Hospital, said Farhan was brought dead to the hospital. Besides, around 200 people, mostly students, took treatment at the hospital.
Witnesses said the clash ensued around 11:30am as police tried to disperse the student after they blocked the roads at Dhanmondi-27. Police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the students, while Jubo League men, wielded with sticks, chased the student.
A man was killed and over 100 others were injured during clashes between police and private university students in Badda and Rampura area. The man was Dulal Matbor, a micro-bus driver who was crossing the area at the time.
Rubel Hossain, Deputy General Manager of the Farazy Hospital, said the injured was brought to the hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead around 12:30pm. He said there is a hole in the chest but we are not sure yet whether it is from a bullet. The official said around 100 people, including police and students, rushed to the hospital with injuries.
In Dhaka's Jatrabari area, five people died when protesters and police clashed on Thursday. They are Hasan Mehedi, 28, Staff Reporter of Dhaka Times, an online news portal, Wasim, 40, a cloth merchant, Nazmul, 28, a chemical trader, Md Ali, 22, and an unnamed rickshaw-puller. They all were declared dead at the DMCH. Meanwhile, Iqbal, 22, who suffered head injured during Wednesday's clashes died at the ICU of DMCH.
Our Savar Correspondent adds that a student was killed and 50 people were injured in Savar on Thursday in clashes between quota protesters and police, activists of Awami League and its associate bodies during the ongoing nationwide 'complete shutdown' over quota reform..
The victim was Shaikh Ashabul Yamin, a student of Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Mirpur, and son of Md Mohiuddin.
Later, the protesters set fire to the highway, and the police later fired tear gas shells and opened fire on the protesters in Savar Bazar bus stand area around noon, leaving several injured.
Our Narsingdi Correspondent adds at last two people including a class nine student were killed and over a hundred others were injured when police allegedly opened fire on protesters at the Jailkhana intersection in Narsingdi on Thursday afternoon.
The deceased student Tahmid was a student at Nasima Kadir Mollah High School and Homes (NKM) in Narsingdi. He was the son Dr Rafiqul Islam of Chinishpur village of Narsingdi Sadar Upazila,. Another was identified as Emon Mia.
Witnesses said around 3:00pm the protesters began gathering at the Jailkhana intersection on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway. By 4:30pm, clashes between the protesters and police escalated, with multiple rounds of tear gas and live ammunition being fired.
During the chaos, a bullet struck Tahmid in the chest, fatally wounding him. The protesters rushed him to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, where on duty doctors declared him dead.
Following the death, the protesters resumed their demonstration, marching on the highway with his body. The police response, including both gunfire and tear gas, resulted in over a hundred injuries among the protesters. The injured were taken to Narsingdi District Hospital, Sadar Hospital, and various private clinics.
Our Chattogram Staff Correspondent reports two people were killed and nine others injured in a clash between quota reform protesters and police in Bahaddarhat area of Chattogram city on Thursday evening.
Identifies of the deceased could not be known immediately. Tuhin Shubhro Das, Emergency Medical Officer at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, said two people with bullet wounds were brought to the CMCH. One succumbed to his injuries around 6:30pm while another died there around 7:00pm.
Our Madaripur Correspondent writes one student drowned after jumping into a lake in Madaripur as students demanding quota reform in government jobs were chased by the police and Chhatra League activists during the students' protest programme on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Dipta Dey, 21, a second-year student of Madaripur Govt College.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Madaripur Warehouse Inspector, Sheikh Ahaduzzaman, said, 'Divers have recovered the body of one of the two students who drowned in the local Shakuni lake.'
Ahaduzzaman said the student's body was taken away from the fire service personnel by the agitating students.
A vehicle of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was set on fire at Hatijheel in the capital on Thursday afternoon amid the ongoing students' shutdown protesting Wednesday's attack on them that left at least 6 dead.
Tension escalated with fires being set at BTV in Rampura, along with multiple police boxes being torched. Hundreds have been injured in the confrontations, and the death toll currently stands at three.
In Rampura, students from East West University took to the streets, leading to police baton charges and tear gas deployment. Meanwhile, Kakrail to Paltan saw student processions disrupting traffic. A procession from the Press Club circled Paltan and returned to Kadam Fountain in front of the Press Club, chanting slogans and blocking the road.
Malibagh and Abul Hotel intersection also witnessed student sit-ins. At Uttara's Zamzam Tower, a traffic police box was vandalized, and two buses were damaged amid ongoing skirmishes between protesters and police.
Further clashes were reported in Motijheel and Mirpur-10, which have turned into virtual battlegrounds. Fires were set at a police box in Rampura, and running battles occurred on the streets.
On the Dhaka-Chattogram highway near Kajla, repeated clashes between police and protesters took place. Police fired tear gas, while protesters hurled stones and wielded sticks. Jatrabari remains volatile after last night's fierce clashes and arson at the Hanif Flyover toll plaza.
Our Gazipur Correspondent adds from the spot said students are demonstrating in front of Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hospital. Many have been injured there.
Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports at least 20 people, including police, were injured in a series of clashes between protesters, police and Awami League supporters in Rajshahi city as the countrywide "Complete Shutdown" enforced by the quota protesters demanding quota system reform was observed, reports UNB.
Around 11:00am, Awami League activists gathered at Zero Point as per their pre-announced programme, while the protesters also assembled at the same location, reports our local correspondent.
Awami League activists then chased the protesters, turning several areas, including Rajshahi Zero Point, Rani Bazar, Aloka Mor, and New Market, into battlegrounds. During the clashes, some 10 crude bombs were exploded.
At least five people from both sides were seriously injured and were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for treatment.
