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Quota Reform Movement

Six killed, scores bullet-hit in clashes across country

Published : Wednesday, 17 July, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 428
Staff Correspondent
At least six quota protesters and pedestrians were killed in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rangpur in clashes with police and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Tuesday during the ongoing quota reform movement.

Many job aspirants and students were bullet-hit across the country.

Besides, hundreds of students suffered injuries during the countrywide demonstration.

The first death was reported in Begum Rokeya University at midday.

A student of the university was killed during a clash between police and protesters seeking quota reform on the campus.

The deceased was identified as Abu Sayed, 25, a student of English Department of the university and one of the organisers of the quota reform movement.

Three people including a student of Chattogram College were killed during clash between the quota protestors and BCL activists in Chattogram.

The identities of two of the victims were confirmed.

They are Md Faruk, 32, an employee of a local furniture shop, and Wasim Akram, 30, a Chattogram College student.

A young man died after being attacked near Dhaka College area this afternoon.

The identity of the deceased, who was around 25 years of age, could not be known immediately.

"With critical head injuries, a youth was brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 5:15pm," Inspector Bachchu Mia, In-charge of DMCH Police Outpost told reporters.

The death occurred amid sporadic clashes in the area between BCL and protesting students near the Science Lab area in the city.

One more youth who was in the Science Lab area died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the evening.

The identity of the deceased could not be known till filing of the report at 945pm.

Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discriminatory Student Movement, told the Daily Observer that five students suffered bullet wounds at Dhaka University and over 35 of the quota protesters suffered injuries.

However, he said he did not receive data how many were injured in the capital until 8:30pm.

Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the movement, announced that the movement will continue until the government abolish quotas in government jobs, barring 5 per cent for children of freedom fighters, backward communities and the disabled.

The protesters suspended their agitation programme for today (Wednesday) for Holy Ashura.

Quota protesters in Chattogram claimed that at least 40 students were injured in BCL attack in the city.

At least 10 people were injured in a chase and counter chase that took place between college students and Dhaka College BCL near the Science Lab intersection around 1:45pm.

Some 10-12 people were brought injured to Popular Medical College Hospital in the city.

Five crude bombs were also exploded at that time.

When the protestors took up position in Science Lab area, around 100 BCL men wearing helmets, armed with sticks and iron rods tried to chase the protesters. Then the students also chased them hurling brick chips at each other.

Dhaka Universitys Assistant Proctor Prof Abdul Muhith was injured when protesting students attacked the universitys proctorial team, who had been asking people to leave the campus via loudspeaker in the Shaheed Minar area at around 4:40pm.

Other injured DU teachers are Prof Mustafizur Rahman, Associate Prof Farzana Ahmed, Associate Prof Hasan Faruk and Assistant Prof Imamul Haque Sarker Titu.

Prof Muhith fell on the road and sustained injuries to his leg.

The teacher was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Our JU correspondent reported that at least 80 students of the university were injured in BCL attack on the campus while demonstrating to realise their demand of reform of quotas in government jobs.

Our JnU Correspondent adds eyewitnesses said BCL and Juba League activists allegedly carried out attacks on protesting students of the university near the CMM court at around 3:30pm. 

At least five students were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League in Jhenaidah in the morning.

The incident took place at Wazir Ali School and College ground in the city around 11:30am Four students of Bogura Govt Azizul Haque College were injured after a crude bomb exploded at the main gate area around 11:00am.

The injured students claimed that the bomb was hurled by BCL men.

Bangladesh Chhatra League started their rally on the Dhaka University campus at 4:0pm.

However, a proctorial team seized some sticks from the rally venue.

On the other hand, protesting students started gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar premises to stage demonstration, as per their pre-scheduled announcement, protesting the attack on students and demanding quota reform at 3:00pm.

The students were seen armed with bamboo sticks and hockey sticks.

Later on at around 8:30pm quota protesters, armed with sticks and iron rods, were now demonstrating in front of the Dhaka University Vice-Chancellors residence, amid a huge police presence.

They were shouting slogans -- "Why my brothers were killed? We want answers from the administration."

They also beat a person suspecting him to be a BCL activist.

In a seriously injured condition, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Several thousand students of Rajshahi University (RU) brought out a protest procession inside the campus, breaking locks of their dormitories.

Earlier RU BCL men chased students inside several halls and locked the hall gates around 2:30pm. However, students managed to break the lock and bring out a procession.

The RU administration later on in a drive recovered five empty bottles of wine and two guns from the rooms of the President and General Secretary of BCLs RU unit.

Students of Tejgaon College and Govt Science College blocked the Farmgate intersection at 2:30pm.

BCL men came to the spot and attacked the students, driving them away. 

Protesting students blocked the railway line in Dhakas Mohakhali level crossing protesting the recent attacks on students of various universities while they were demonstrating for quota reform.

A brief clash broke out between students of three private universities and activists of BCL in Dhakas Bhatara area at noon.

Witnesses said there was a chase and counter-chase incident between students of three universities -- Dhaka International University, UIU and AIUB -- and BCL men as the students marched forward to Natun Bazar Road around 11:45am.
Both parties hurled bricks and stones at each other. 

Students of Dania College and nearby institutions blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Jatrabari in the afternoon. 

Students of International Islamic University Chittagong blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highways Kumira area in the morning.

However, Border Guard Bangladesh was deployed in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur and Bogura to maintain law and order.

Shariful Islam, Public Relations Officer of BGB, said the BGB was deployed to maintain law and order situation amid the clashes centring the quota reform movement.

The quota protesters in protest against BCL attacks across the country occurred on Monday blocked 29 points in Dhaka.

Following the attacks on quota protesters, a number of BCL leaders and activists resigned from their political posts.



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