30 people including 10 bullets injured across country
Staff Reporter :
Protests led by Students Against Discrimination saw violent clashes across Bangladesh on Saturday, resulting in over 100 student injuries, including 20 from gunshots, as thousands of students took to the streets demanding justice for those killed by police in July.
In Gazipur, the violence claimed the life of local trader Jahangir Alam, 45, who was fatally shot during a confrontation between police and protesters in the Mawna area.
The clash also left 15 others injured. The unrest in Gazipur saw protesters staging demonstrations and blocking roads in Sreepur.
They set fire to three pickups belonging to the Sreepur police station and two vehicles belonging to the Mawna Highway police station. Additionally, two highway police boxes under the Mawna flyover were vandalised and set ablaze.
Several private vehicles and business establishments near various markets were also damaged.
The confrontation involved a series of clashes between the protesters and police, including a chase and counter-chase.
The police responded with shotguns, rubber bullets, and tear gas in an attempt to control the situation. During the chaos, demonstrators threw bricks at the police, resulting in injuries to several officers.
Akbar Ali Khan, Officer-in-Charge of Sreepur police station, reported that the police were initially unarmed and maintaining a peaceful stance when they were unexpectedly attacked.
The situation escalated with the burning of three police cars and two highway police boxes under the flyover.
In Cumilla, violence erupted as Jubo League members attacked a student procession. The incident occurred around 1:15 p.m. in the Racecourse area.
According to witnesses and students, the procession, which began at Cumilla Zilla School and was heading towards the police lines, was met with a violent response from Jubo League and Swechasebak League activists.
At least 30 gunshots were fired, resulting in injuries to 30 individuals, including seven students.
The protests, which began earlier in the day, were part of a broader demonstration programme organised by Students Against Discrimination.
The situation remains tense as the nation grapples with the fallout from these violent clashes.
Five students, who sustained bullet wounds, were seen being taken to the Cumilla Medical College Hospital by the fellow protesters.
Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, director of the hospital, said five injured people were taken to the hospital and they are now under treatment. He could not confirm if they were hit by bullets.
Meanwhile, a coordinator of the student movement, Jannatul Eva, said she came to know about a significant number of injuries. She condemned the attacks on their programmes.
In Bogura, the city town turned into a battleground as protesters locked in fierce clashes with police on Saturday.
Police fired teargas shells, rubber bullets and exploded sound grenades to disperse the protesters, leaving several students injured.
The incident occurred while the protesters were marching in city roads from Satmatha intersection around 4:00pm.
The clashes were going on in different parts of the city including Satmatha, Circuit House intersection, road in front of district court and Kalibari intersection till the filing of this report at 5:30pm.
Witnesses said thousands of protesters gathered at Satmatha area around 2:30pm and chanted slogans demanding the resignation of the government.
Meanwhile, police fired tear shells, sound grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters in Sylhet today (3 August) as clashes took place between police and protesters. Many protesters have been injured over the clashes.
The clashes took place around 5pm in Chauhatta area of the city.
Protesting students started gathering in front of the Shaheed Minar in the Chowhatta area of the city at 12pm as part of the protest march announced by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.