Staff Reporter:
The heart of Dhaka city was shaken by sudden unrest on Sunday just days after the peaceful atmosphere of Eid holidays as sound grenades echoed through the streets in front of the National Press Club, sparking fear and panic among residents and bystanders.
The confrontation began around 1:30pm when police intercepted a procession of demonstrators candidates from the 17th batch of the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration Examination as they attempted to march towards the Secretariat. What began as a peaceful gathering quickly escalated into chaos as the demonstrators defied police orders to vacate the area near Gate No. 5 of the Secretariat.
In response, law enforcement officials deployed six sound grenades to disperse the crowd. The sharp, explosive sounds disrupted the usually bustling area, sending people running for cover and creating a climate of fear that stood in stark contrast to the festive calm of the previous week.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, with some protesters injured during the dispersal. “We were simply walking forward when the sound grenades were thrown. People were screaming, some fell on the ground it felt like a battlefield,” said one teacher participating in the protest.Deputy Commissioner of Ramna Division under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Masud Alam, confirmed that five to six individuals were injured in the incident.
