Protesting students being fired upon in Uttara by ‘helmet wearing’ men
Protesting students – especially from private universities, Rajuk Uttara Model College, Milestone College, among others – were baton charged by police in the capital’s Uttara.
Some protesters claimed ruling party men fired gunshots to quell the protest.
When asked, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Uttara Division’s deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner refused to make any comment.
Videos circulating supposedly from the scene showed police firing teargas shells at the protesters to disperse them. This could not be independently verified.
The clashes mainly broke out in Uttara-11 between protesters and police, with chase and counter chases ensuing.
On social media, students alleged that police were open firing, but no deaths or injuries have been reported so far.
At the moment, police are patrolling the area with riot cars and APCs.
At a briefing yesterday, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said none of police, RAB and BGB personnel were allowed to open fire.
Despite this, numerous incidents of police open firing have been recorded.
Amid the quota reform movement, govt sources place the death toll at 150, while most media have reported figures of over 200.
