Two killed, over 100 hurt in tripartite clashes
Habiganj AL office set on fire
At least two people – one in Khulna and another in Habiganj -- were killed and over 100 others injured in Dhaka and other parts of the country on Friday during fierce clashes between the law enforcement agencies, Awami League activists and students.
One of the deceased was identified as Suman Mridha, a police constable. He was killed during a clash in Khulna.
Some 25 police personnel were also injured during the violence between the protesters.
Mostaque Mia (24), a day labourer was killed being caught in the clash in Habiganj.
Miscreants also the AL office in Habiganj on fire during the clash.
People expected peace and tranquility after the amendment in the quota system, but the students were out again demanding justice for killing of their fellow-students during the anti-quota movement.
Witnesses said Mostaque went for buying a pair of shoes and received a bullet when the police opened fire to disperse the demonstrators.
Earlier, several thousand students on Friday staged demonstrations across the country, including Dhaka, demanding justice to the killing of their fellows.
Witnesses said students from Qaumi Madrasah also joined the procession brought out by the students.
The protesters in several groups, demanding Justice for killing during the July mayhem brought out mass processions in various parts of the capital and chanted slogans asking the government to answer over the killings.
Incidents of chase and counter chase also took place between the police, Awami League activists and protesters in Uttara and other parts of the country.
At least 100 people, including journalists, were injured in Dhaka and other parts of the country during clashes between the law enforcement agencies, Awami League activists and protesters.
Apart from the students, various organisations, including Udichi and other cultural organisations, also took to the streets demanding justice to the killing of students.
Witnesses said, Uttara area turned into a battlefield as law enforcement agencies, AL activists and protesters were locked in clashes.
The AL activists chased the protesters at about 4:00pm when they were staging demonstrations in front of the Zamzam Tower. The students also retaliated against the AL activists.
Police lobbed cans of tear shells and used sound grenade to disperse the protesters, leaving some students injured badly.
The police also were locked in clashes in Khulna, Sylhet, Chattogram and other districts.
Abdul Kader, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, on Thursday announced fresh programmes for Friday, including prayers and a mass procession after Juma prayers to press home their nine-point demand.
He also urged all citizens, including teachers, intellectuals, cultural activists, human rights activists, students to make the programme a success.
All mosques, temples and churches were urged to hold prayers for the students who were killed.
The protesters took to the streets in the capital after the Juma prayers and brought out a procession from the Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
Chanting various slogans against the government, the protesters marched to the Dhaka University campus.
When the protesters tried to break the barricade at Shahbagh, police obstructed them and requested them not to do so, witnesses said.
They said a large number of activists of Jamaat-Shibir, which were banned by the government on Thursday, also took part in the procession.
In Khulna, police were locked in clashes with students during the mass procession programme of the students. The incident left at least 50 students injured, witnesses said.
The students brought out the procession from Khulna’s New Market area at about 2:00pm and marched on roads before gathering in front of the Khulna University.
Witnesses said, when they were staging peaceful demonstration programme, police attacked them. The law enforcement agencies fired rubber bullets, lobbed tear shells, hurled sound grenade and charged batons to disperse the protesters.
In Sylhet, police shot rubber bullets, hurled sound grenade and lobbed tear shells when the protesters started procession from Akhalia area. The protesters also retaliated with brickbats, turning the area into a battlefield.
At least 20 people were injured during the deadly clash. The Bangla Daily Kalbela journalist Mithu Das Joy was bullet-hit during the clash.
Police also detained some 12 people from the spot.
In Luxmipur, activists of Juba League and Chhatra League were locked in the clashes at Tamiz Market area. At least 10 people were injured during the clash.
In Chattogram, protesters locked in violent clashes at different parts of Chattogram city during their mass procession programme.
Braving rain, the protesters took to the streets and faced obstacles from the AL activists. Incidents of vandalism took place during the incidents of chase and counter chase. A police box was also set on fire.
Members of the Udichi said applying force is not expected to control a peaceful movement launched with a demand for the quota reform.
The government has to take the responsibility for the killing of the students, they said at a programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Students of various institutions, including Dhaka College, Eden University College, Ideal College, Kabi Nazrul College and BRAC University joined the programme aiming at realising their nine-point demand.
Before leaving the streets, Rakib Hossain, one of the coordinators of the movement, they would not return home until their demands were met.
