DHAKA, July 16 : Over 220 students suffered injuries after activists from the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) – the students arm of the country’s ruling Awami League – attacked demonstrators seeking reforms in the job quota system at Dhaka University’s campus on Monday afternoon, officials said on Tuesday. According to sources at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), over 200 students injured in the clashes went to the emergency department for treatment. Following the removal of the demonstrators, BCL activists monitored the whole DU campus. According to the sources, at around 3.30 pm, League members from several Dhaka University hostels and Dhaka municipal units rushed on the protesting students. Earlier, another clash erupted between protesters and BCL activists when a group of protestors using loudspeakers called students from several hostels to join their protest. As they approached Bijoy Ekattor Hall, BCL members inside the hostel began throwing brick chips at the protestors. The protesters also retaliated. “Outsiders attacked us today in a planned manner. When there is a proctor present at the scene, how do outsiders attack students? The government is trying to violently suppress this movement,” Nahid Islam claimed. The police blocked a procession from Shahidullah Hall to the Shaheed Minar earlier, preventing them from reaching the location, Dhaka Tribune reported. Shahbagh Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Arshad Hossain said that everyone came here for medical treatment. They are trying to provide treatment to both the protesters and the general public. Upon hearing about the sudden attack, they immediately arrived at the scene, but the attackers had left DMCH before their arrival, the Dhaka Tribune reported The injured quota reform activists, who were undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), have been reportedly attacked again by Chhatra League activists. According to the sources, at around 5.30pm, Chhatra League members tried to attack the emergency department of DMCH. During this time, they also attacked several journalists. Protests and attacks on students were reported at various institutions, including Jahangirnagar University, Jagannath University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Barisal University, Begum Rokeya University Rangpur, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, and Pabna University of Science and Technology. They attacked the protesting students indiscriminately with iron rods and sticks, reports said. According to the sources, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and senior leaders of the Awami League criticized the protesters for chanting “I am Razakar” slogans on Sunday night.
The Editors Guild, Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), and 24 eminent citizens expressed deep concerns regarding the slogans chanted by quota protesters. Chhatra League’s DU unit took control of the campus after an hour-long clash with agitated students, resulting in many injuries. The group also attacked injured students and attendees at Dhaka Medical College Hospital twice in the evening. The clashes ensued after the end of the students’ demonstration at Raju Memorial Sculpture, which began around noon on Monday to protest Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks supporting the quota system. Jagannath University students organized a protest march towards Raju Memorial Sculpture in solidarity with the movement, while Chhatra League members took positions throughout the campus from 11 am. (UNI)
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