Over 150 students were injured in an attack on quota protestors allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League(BCL) activists on Dhaka University campus on Monday afternoon when they gathered there to hold a rally.
A chase and counter-chase between the protestors and BCL activists started near Bijoy Ekattor hall of Dhaka University around 3 pm and continued till 4 pm, correspondent reports from the spot.
The BCL activists were seen beating the protestors with sticks, stumps and iron rods, leaving many injured.
Journalist visiting DMCH so far 120 injured students were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.
A tense situation has been prevailing on Dhaka University campus and adjoining areas after the attack. A huge number of police were seen on the campus after the incident.
There have been intermittent clashes since afternoon at various spots of the DU campus. In the meantime, there was a clash till evening in the area of DMCH and Shahidulya Hall.
Earlier, the quota protestors gathered in front of Raju Sculpture on Dhaka University campus to hold a rally protesting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks about the movement demanding quota reform.
Students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Buet, Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Dhaka Medical College joined the protest programme.
Some general students alleged that when some quota activists were coming to join the rally from Eden Mohila College, some BCL leaders of the college unit obstructed them by locking the gate, triggering a clash around 12:30 pm that left several students injured.
The injured were Sayma Afroz, Shahinur Shumi, Sumaiya Akther and Sanjida Haq. One of the injured was taken to a hospital.
Students of Dhaka University and other universities and colleges across the country erupted in protest late Sunday night, sparked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s criticism of the movement opposing the reinstatement of quotas in government jobs.
Students from Dhaka University, responding to a call from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, took to the streets in a protest march at around 10.45 pm. Students from all residential halls, including the women’s halls, participated in the march.
Earlier in the Sunday afternoon, during a press conference at Ganabhaban regarding her visit to China, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized those opposing the quota for freedom fighters.
She said, “Why do they harbor so much resentment against the valiant freedom fighters? The grandchildren of freedom fighters don’t get jobs, the grandchildren of Rajakars will get them? This is my question to the nation.”
