Anti-quota protesters were locked in series of clashes with the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awmi League, on Dhaka University campus on Monday leaving at least 150 people injured.
A vested interest group has allegedly instigated the quota protests to destabilise the country through a conspiracy to oust the elected Awami League government.
More than 200, including two journalists and several women, were injured in the clashes, quota protesters said
Different intelligence agencies had earlier warned that a vested quarter may instigate violence across the country, cashing in the students’ anti-quota movement in a bid to achieve political gain.
Around 150 injured students were brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), hospital sources said.
Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost told the Bangladesh Post that no one was admitted to the hospital. All the injured were released after primary treatment.
Bachchu Mia also said that more than 20 protestors forcibly entered the room of the director of the DMCH and they (protesters) alleged that doctors were not present for providing treatment.
Huge police forces were seen entering the DU campus till filing of this report at around 8:10pm.
Witnesses said that clash broke out around 3:00pm when the quota protesters attacked the BCL supporters. They swooped on the BCL activists from a rally protesting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's remarks about quota movement
The incidents were reported from DU’s Bijoy Ekattor Hall, VC Chattar, Nilkhet intersection, and the surrounding areas.
Later, the BCL activists and quota protesters chased and attacked each other outside the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Police sources said that a pedestrian injured in the clash was seen being taken away from the spot with his shirt soaked in blood.
Fearing further attacks from the quota protesters, the BCL activists took position outside the gate of the DMCH emergency department and chased away the quota protester from the DMCH area.
The protesters took up position inside Muhammad Shahidullah Hall. Both the groups hurled brick chunks at the other. Panic was created at the DMCH emergency department when a group of BCL men armed with sticks and iron rods swooped on protesting students.
A chase and counter chase between the two groups ensued, with each throwing brick chunks at the other.
The BCL activists tried to enter the emergency gate but later backtracked.
At least six crude bombs exploded near Shahidullah Hall of Dhaka University in the evening.
Campus sources said at least six crude bombs exploded near the hall between 5:35pm and 5:45pm,
Eden College Samajtantrik Chhatra Front unit president Shahinur Sumi and five others were injured in an attack allegedly by the college’s BCL unit activists. The other injured are Saima, Tamanna, Fahmida, Sanjida, and Mim.
Inspector Bachchu Mia confirmed the matter saying, “Sumi is undergoing treatment at the DMCH emergency department.”
Anti-quota supporters claimed that BCL activists attacked Eden College students when they tried to march towards Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus.
Samajtantrik Chhatra Font General Secretary Rafiquzzaman Farid said: "There was a program at the Raju Memorial Sculpture. When some students from Eden College gathered on the DU campus, around 30 BCL activists attacked them."
Two photojournalists were also injured while covering the clash between BCL and quota protesters on the DU campus. They were allegedly attacked by BCL men near DU's VC Chattar.
150 injured on DU campus
The two injured are The Daily Star's senior photographer Prabir Das and Daily Prothom Alo's staff photographer Dipu Malakar.
They alleged that BCL activists from different halls of Dhaka University and Dhaka city units swooped on the protesting students around 3:30pm.
They beat the protesting students indiscriminately with iron rods and sticks, leaving more than 50 injured.
BCL also chased them and dispersed them.
The injured were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, according to the protesters.
Earlier, another clash took place around 3:00pm when a group of quota protesters through loudspeakers were calling students to join their protest from different dormitories.
As they reached Bijoy Ekattor Hall, BCL men from inside the dormitory started throwing brick chips at the protestors. The protestors then retaliated.
Later, both the groups, each wielding sticks and iron rods, chased and counter-chased the each other.
Earlier, BCL president Saddam Hossain told media around 1:00pm that it was clear that the protesters were crossing their limits, and BCL knew how to "politically" deal with those who cross the limit.
Less than two hour after quota protesters were attacked and chased out of Dhaka University campus by BCL activists, quota reform activists said they will bring out a procession on campus on Monday night to protest the attack.
Nahid Islam, one of the organisers of the quota protests, said, "Our movement will continue. We will hold a procession on the DU campus in protest of Chhatra League's attack again on Monday night."
He, however, did not mention the time the procession would take place.
Speaking to journalists around 4:30pm in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he went to visit those hurt in the attack, he said, "Around 150 of our students have been injured. the Chhatra League attacked us to suppress our movement."
Meanwhile, quota reform activists also blocked the road at capital’s Badda-Notun Bazar intersection.
The protesting students gathered at Badda-Notun Bazar intersection after 12:00pm. Later they blocked the road.
Senior assistant commissioner of police in Badda zone, Rajon Kumar Saha told that the quota reform activists blocked the road at Badda-Notun Bazar intersection.
There are several private universities in Bashundhara, Purbachal and Bhatara areas in the capital. According to sources, the students of the private universities located in these areas have joined the movement on Monday. They have blocked Progoti Sarani and Kuril intersection as well.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman warned that police would handle with iron fist anyone who breaks law in the name of quota reform movement, flouting the court order in connection with quota system.
Protestors also brought out a procession at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology protesting the alleged BCL attacks on the quota reform protesters.
A group of students entered the campus through the main entrance on Monday afternoon. The procession then paraded the roundabout on the campus and went to the female students’ hall where female students also joined the demonstration.
On the other hand, more than 100 leaders and activists led by SUST unit of BCL president Khalilur Rahman and general secretary Sajibur Rahman also brought out a procession.
At the procession, they chanted slogans including, “No place for Razakar in my Sonar Bangla.”
