Staff Reporter:
Around 250 quota protesters have been injured in clash with Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on Dhaka University campus yesterday, students and hospital sources say.
The attack and counter-attack started around 2:15 pm, when a group of quota protesters went to “Hall Para” of Dhaka University from the Raju Sculpture to gather students for their rally.
When students supporting quota reform went near Bijoy Ekattor Hall of Dhaka University, some BCL leaders prevented them. Quota protesters then attacked and vandalized the glasses and threw stones to-ward Bijoy Ekattor Hall.
Being informed, more quota protesters went to Hall Para from Raju Sculpture around 2:40 pm. Quota reform supporters carried out a second round of attack at the Bijoy Ekattor Hall.
At one point of chase and counter-chase, BCL leaders of Bangabandhu Hall came out wearing helmets and carrying rods and sticks, requesting the quota protesters not to advance.
The quota protesters refrained from advancing towards Bangabandhu Hall. BCL leaders from Ziaur Rahman Hall came out and chased the quota protesters. BCL activists were also taking position near Mohsin Hall at the time.
Being united, BCL activists carried out attack on the protesters with rods, pipes, sharp weapons and in-jured around 250 students, protesting students said.
DMCH sources confirmed that more than 200 students arrived with serious injuries.
Seeking anonymity, an injured student at DMCH said that Chhatra League activists hit his leg with a hockey stick.
Hasnat Abdulla, one of the coordinators of the quota protests, wrote on his Facebook that he was beaten badly.
When the quota protesters went to DMCH, BCL took position at Raju Sculpture and a group advanced towards the hospital, again attacking injured students inside the DMCH area, protesters said.
Being informed, a group of students from Shahidulllah Hall moved towards Dhaka Medical College Hospital to help the protesters.
Shots were fired towards Shahidullah Hall, they added.
In the meantime, students of Ruqayyah Hall came out protesting BCL attack on quota protesters but faced obstruction from BCL activists of the hall, protesters said.
Quota reform supporting students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College started gathering at Raju Sculpture around 12 pm inspire by an instantly called program to protest Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remark about the quota reform protests made during a press conference on Sunday.
As the situation turned intense, police and other law enforcement personnel were deployed around the halls of science faculty area of the Dhaka University.
