6 shot as clashes turn Jatrabari into battleground

The repeated clashes between police and quota reform protesters have turned the area from Kajla to Shonir Akhra in the southern part of the capital's Hanif Flyover under Jatrabari Police Station into a battleground.

The confrontations began in the evening and continued in waves throughout the night, also leading to a fire at the Jatrabari toll plaza.

Earlier in the day, students demanding quota reform blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, causing traffic to come to a standstill. The situation escalated in the evening with repeated clashes between the protesters and the police.

An eyewitness said, "The police are responsible for everything. We students were protesting peacefully, but then the police started firing rubber bullets and using tear gases. Due to the blockade by students, vehicles from outside are unable to enter Dhaka, and those inside the city cannot leave."

To control the situation, police opened fire, resulting in six people being shot, including two-year-old child.

The fire at the Jatrabari toll plaza, reportedly set by miscreants, and the ongoing clashes have led to a complete halt of traffic on the Hanif Flyover, exacerbating the already tense situation in the area.

Fire services are working to control the blaze, and the injured are being attended to, but the situation remains volatile.

SA