Chhatra League activists clash with quota protestors on DU campus

A group of Dhaka Metropolitan (South) Chhatra League has gathered in front of Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus as part of their preparation to hold the pre-announced demonstration at 3pm.

On the other hand, a clash has erupted between the students of Bijoy Ekattor hall and Chhatra League activists. 

At least one student was allegedly injured in the clash.

Here are all the updates on the situation as it developed from 3:15pm:

3:40pm

The university’s Mall Chattar has turned into a battlefield.

3:26pm

The BCL activists of Surja Sen Hall attacked the quota protesters.

3:24pm

The anti-quota protesters took control of the field in front of Bijoy Ekattor hall.

3:19pm

As news of the clash spread, quota reform protesters marched in a large procession to Bijoy Ekattor Hall.

Earlier last night, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) President Saddam Hossain announced that the student wing will hold a sit-in programme the Raju Memorial Sculpture to protest against what they see as an insult to the spirit of the liberation war.

He said, “From Monday, there will be no Rajakar on the streets of Bangladesh. This is a clear directive to leaders in every district, city, university, and educational institution, those who seek to create anarchy or mock the martyrs will be dealt with on the streets.”

Earlier on the day, students protesting for the reform of the quota system in government jobs gathered at Raju Memorial Sculpture for their scheduled demonstration to press forth their one-point demand and call for the retraction of the Prime Minister’s recent remarks on the issue.

Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement, said, “Anti-quota protesters from Eden College have broken the padlock placed on the dormitory gate by BCL activists and are now on their way to join the protest. Meanwhile, numerous students from other educational institutions in Dhaka have already gathered at Raju Memorial.”

Students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) and Dhaka Medical College (DMC) have joined the protest today, along with protesters from some of the private universities in the capital.

Claiming that the Prime Minister’s comments were insulting, agitating students, including on the Dhaka University campus, announced a fresh protest today at 12pm after they demonstrated for around two hours last night. Later, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement confirmed today’s protest schedule at the Raju Memorial Sculpture on the Dhaka University campus through a digital poster.

In the early hours today, BCL members allegedly attacked quota reform protesters at the University of Chittagong, the Jahangirnagar University, and the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust) during demonstrations, the protesters have claimed.

The attacks have left at least 6-9 people injured, according to sources.

This morning, the provost of Jahangirnagar University’s Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall resigned from his post over the alleged attack on quota protestors at the university.