50 hurt in police-student clashes

Jagannath University students fought pitched battles with police on the campus on Sunday protesting against illegal occupation of a residential hall. More than 50 students and a teacher of the university were reportedly injured during the clashes. Witnesses said the clashes erupted around Sunday noon at Dhaka’s Islampur. Police fired rubber bullets and lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the agitating students. That was after the students had halted traffic on the stretch of road from Nayabazar intersection to Sadarghat. Policemen finally moved away on request of the university’s teachers’ association president Sarkar Ali Ashraf. Lalbagh police deputy commissioner Harunur Rashid said the agitating students had hurled brickbats at police, leaving at least 10 policemen injured. Witnesses said the students locked up the main entrance of the university around 8am. They demonstrated against the illegal occupation of their dormitory ‘Tibet Hall’ but were stopped by police when they tried to proceed towards it. The angry students hurled brickbats at police forcing them to fire rubber bullets and lob teargas canisters. More than 50 students were injured during the clash. When chased by police, the agitating students tried to regroup in front of the university’s main gate around 11.45am. Both the groups again chased each other and a clash erupted again. The university’s assistant proctor Nasir Ahmed was injured when hit by a rubber bullet. Police left around 12.45pm but the students continued with their agitation. Student protests in the university against illegal occupation of residential dormitories started early in February. Independent MP Haji Selim, who represents Dhaka-7 constituency, is alleged to have occupied the ‘Tibet Hall’ since 2001. Jagannath University unit Chhatra League president Shariful Islam, who was also injured, said, “The land grabbers have now turned into public representatives after occupying university dormitories. He (Selim) is earning millions by constructing Gulshan Ara City Complex on the occupied Tibet Hall.” He vowed to continue their movement until the ‘land grabbers’ are removed and the halls are restored to the students. – bdnews24.com