Staff Reporter:
A day after the government ordered shut all educational institutions across the country, clashes erupted in different parts of the country with quota reform protesters facing ruling party supporters and police during their attempts to continue demonstrations.
Apparently defying government moves to contain the protests against 56% quotas in government job recruitment, university and college students on Wednesday blockaded at least eight key roads and railway lines in the country.
Since Monday, the protesters, mostly university and college students, have also been demanding justice for the attacks of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the ruling party’s student wing, on them as well as withdrawal of PM’s Sunday remarks that protesters claim insulted them.
On Wednesday, roads, highways and rail tracks were blocked at: Dhaka-Barishal highway at Barishal’s Uzirpur upazila, Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Dhaka’s Sanir Akhra, Dhaka-Narayanganj railway at Narayanganj’s Chashara, Dhaka-Narayanganj link road at Narayanganj’s Jalkuri Karaitola area, Khulna-Jashore highway at Khulna city, Nabinagar-Chandra highway at Dhaka’s Savar, rail tracks at Mymensingh city, Jashore rail tracks.
Separately, BCL leaders and activists attacked protesters at Dhaka’s Ashulia, Brahmanbaria, Feni, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Satkhira.
Police tried to disperse protesters at Barishal city’s Nathullabad area with tear gas. Protesters retaliated by throwing brick chips leaving Deputy Commissioner Ali Ashraf Bhuiyan injured. Some students and reporters were also injured in the clash. Earlier, students from colleges and schools tried to block the Dhaka-Barishal highway at 4.45pm.
