Quota reform: 30 injured as police clash with protesters
Students to gather for campus demostrations on Friday
11 JULY 2024
Tribune Report |Publish : 11 Jul 2024, 11:31 PM Update : 12 Jul 2024, 01:00 AM
Clashes between police and quota protesters left at least 30 people, including three policemen and journalists, injured in Dhaka, Comilla and Chittagong on Thursday.
On the fourth day of the Bangla Blockade program, some students at Shahbagh assaulted Somoy TV reporter Twoha Khan Tamim and cameraman Prince Arefin in the evening. They also damaged Arefin’s video camera.
The incident occurred at around 5:45pm and was captured on video obtained by Somoy TV, UNB reported. The footage shows protesters suddenly turning on the journalists.
A youth, identified by his black jersey and a headband featuring the Bangladesh flag, repeatedly striking Tamim. He later grabbed a helmet from another individual and advanced towards Tamim to strike him further.
At Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) in Agargaon, the protesters clashed with police, leaving at least 10 people injured.
Witnesses said that the students began their protest march in front of the university's central library at around 4pm. When they tried to exit through the second gate of the university, the police intervened.
When the students attempted to bypass the police barricade, the police resorted to baton charges, resulting in injuries to ten students.
Subsequently, the students managed to overcome the police obstruction and took up positions on the road adjacent to the Planning Ministry.
Meanwhile, students of Comilla University (CU) clashed with the police near the Ansar camp in Kotbari on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway.
Locals said that around 500 students from CU tried to gather at Kotbari. At around 3:30pm, police obstructed them, leading to a chase and counter-chase.
Police fired ten rounds of shots in the air and lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. The clash left 20 people, including three policemen, injured.
Students said the clash ensued following an argument between them and the police.
In response, the students brought out a procession and marched through the university.
CU student Sahab Uddin said: "The police attacked our peaceful program without any provocation. Students will not accept this."
Feroz Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said that the law enforcers are on the field to maintain a peaceful environment and will not allow any disturbances on the highway.
In Chittagong, police baton-charged agitating students at Tiger Pass at around 2:30pm.
Locals said that the students were agitating in the area in the afternoon and when they broke through the police barricade, the law enforcers went for a tough response.
The students arrived at Chittagong Baitul Mukarram Station on a shuttle train and then attempted to march towards Tiger Pass, where they faced police obstruction.
After a half-hour of verbal altercation, the police baton-charged the students as they tried to move forward in a procession, locals added.
Despite the police action, the students continued their march and took up positions at Gate No 2 in the Tiger Pass area.
Earlier in the day, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Ops) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Dr Mahid Uddin warned that strict action will be taken against individuals who block roads in the name of the blockade.
Meanwhile, Quota reform protesters have now announced campus-wide demonstrations for Friday.
Protest rallies and processions will be held on the campuses of all educational institutions across the country.
This demonstration is in response to attacks on protesters at various locations during Thursday’s Bangla Blockade program.