Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Sunday, 147 people have, so far, died in clashes with the police and other forces during the Quota Reform Movement.
Giving the information to reporters at his Secretariat office, he said, "Among the dead are police, Awami League leaders and activists, students and people from various professions."
He said verification is going on to ascertain the number of victims and their details.
Regarding the allegations of mass arrest across the country, he said that none was arrested without specific allegation of arson attacks, vandalism and killing of innocent people in the name of the quota reform movement.
"Those, who were involved in arson attacks and brutally killing of innocent people as well as police, were arrested," he said, adding that the police arrested only those who were engaged in the recent mayhem and killing of innocent people and policemen on the basis of video footage.
Replying to a question, he told reporters that some 147 people were killed of different ages in the violence so far.
Of the death, there were different classes, different ages and different political parties and the number of victims was collected from different hospitals and districts, he said.
"Confusion is being spread about the death toll. Sometimes it is said 500, sometimes it is said 1000, but what the exact number. That's why we gave the number of death toll, which we got," the minister said.
He said, of course, the government will identify the miscreants, who were involved in recent mayhem and bring them under book.
"We will not spare anyone," Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal stated.
Replying to another question, the home minister said that police never open fire, as they have to submit report of ammunition, which they used.
"Police or the law enforcement agencies always open fire when they defend themselves from miscreants," he added.
