Clashes Spread Across Campuses, Protests Announced Nationwide in Bangladesh
Protests and rallies have been announced in Bangladesh in response to attacks by the ruling party’s student body on quota reform activists and to demand the withdrawal of the Prime Minister’s speech The Sunday Times
Clashes Spread Across Campuses, Protests Announced Nationwide in Bangladesh
The anti-discrimination student movement in Bangladesh has announced nationwide protests and rallies for Tuesday afternoon in response to attacks by the ruling party’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), on quota reform activists and demanded the withdrawal of the Prime Minister’s statement.
This announcement was made after a protest march in front of Curzon Hall at Dhaka University on Monday night. At a press conference, the movement alleged that BCL attacked students using rods and cleavers with the help of outsiders. Nahid Islam, the coordinator of the movement, urged not to allow the BCL leaders and activists involved in these attacks into the halls
Meanwhile, the protest against the BCL’s attack on quota reform activists at Dhaka University has spread to various university campuses across the country. In some of these protests, BCL leaders and activists also carried out attacks. Several students were reported injured in attacks at Jahangirnagar and Chittagong University on Monday.
Students of Khulna University and KUET blocked the Dhaka-Khulna highway as part of their protest. Protests were also held at Barishal and Rajshahi Universities, among other campuses. Barishal University students blocked the Dhaka-Patuakhali highway in protest.
University journalists reported to that several students were injured in attacks by BCL at Comilla, Rajshahi, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Ten Injured in Attack at Jahangirnagar, Including a Teacher
Following the attack on quota reform activists at Dhaka University, students at Jahangirnagar University took to the streets in protest. Students started gathering in front of the university library from around 5 PM. Mehedi Mamun, a journalist at Jahangirnagar University, told that BCL leaders attacked the protesting students around 7:15 PM when they took out a protest march from in front of the library.
The attack was led by senior BCL leaders of the university. Mr. Mamun reported that a chase and counter-chase incident occurred between quota reform activists and BCL at the university’s Shaheed Minar area for about half an hour. As of the time of writing this report, at least 10 people, including a teacher and four female students, were injured in this clash.
The injured teacher is Aulad Hossain, a professor of the university’s chemistry department. Additionally, Mr. Mamun reported that at least 10 people, including Abdur Rashid Jitu, a key coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement’s Jahangirnagar University branch, were injured in the attack.
What Happened at Chittagong University
Chittagong University was tense from Monday morning. During this time, BCL also attacked quota reform activists
Redwan Ahmed, a journalist at Chittagong University, told that quota reform activists were preparing to travel to Chittagong city on a shuttle train for their program when BCL leaders and activists abducted Talat Mahmud Rafi, one of the movement’s coordinators
BCL took Mr. Rafi from the train station to the proctor’s office, where he was assaulted in the proctor’s presence.
Meanwhile, a section of the protesting female students staged a sit-in in front of the proctor’s office, during which BCL leaders and activists chased several of them
Mr. Ahmed reported that when a section of quota reform activists marched on campus in protest, they were attacked by BCL. Several people were injured in this inciden
Mr. Ahmed mentioned that Talat Rafi was admitted to the university using the freedom fighter quota. His speech demanding the abolition of the quota went viral. On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina criticized an anonymous student admitted through the freedom fighter quota during a press conference
Later in the afternoon, when students from various colleges and universities in Chittagong gathered at Soloshahar demanding quota reform, BCL attacked them. Several cocktails were reportedly detonated during this time, according to Redwan Ahmed. The situation calmed down after police intervened
KUET and Khulna University Students Block Roads
Students from various institutions in Khulna were vocal in their protest against BCL’s attack on Dhaka University students.
Around 5 PM, students from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and various government colleges in Khulna gathered at Zero Point in the city, blocking the roads.
Hasan Himalay, a journalist from Khulna, told that around 5:30 PM, students began gathering at Hami Chattar in the Khulna University campus. From there, they marched through various roads on campus.
Later, students from Khulna University, KUET, and various colleges in the city together marched through the Khulna-Satkhira highway to Zero Point, where they blocked the road and started a sit-in.
As there is no BCL committee in Khulna University due to its non-political stance, there was no BCL activity in Khulna, according to Mr. Himalay. Shortly thereafter, students also blocked the Dhaka-Khulna-Mongla road for about an hour.
Protests and Attacks in Other Campuses
Students protested at Rajshahi University, calling the Prime Minister’s comments in her press conference on the ongoing student movement ‘disrespectful’
Abdul Sabur, a journalist at Rajshahi University, told that students from Rajshahi University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, and Varendra University staged a sit-in on Paris Road on Monday from 12:45 PM to 1:50 PM
Shortly after this, Mr. Sabur reported that BCL activists attacked several protesting students at Rajshahi University. At least four quota reform activists were injured in this attack
Following the attack, BCL organized a protest march on campus against the quota reform activists
There were also reports of attacks on protesting students at Comilla University on Monday evening
