Staff Reporter:
More than 70 students were injured in police action at the Secretariat yesterday, with much currently receiving primary treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
According to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), over 70 in-jured students arrived in the afternoon and received primary treatment, with no one reported to be in critical condition.
Thousands of students gathered outside the Secretariat in protest, demanding justice for the victims of a recent plane crash involving students from Milestone College in Uttara.
They also condemned the late-night postponement of the HSC examination, which was announced at 3am, and called for action against Education Adviser CR Abrar.
At one point, the protesters broke through Gate No. 1 of the Secretariat and entered the premises, caus-ing damage and vandalized many vehicles.
In response, police resorted to baton-charging the students, leaving them injured.
Nazmus Sakib, a student of Lalbagh Model College and one of the injured, said, “Police hit me and my friend with the butt of a gun. I can’t even walk to the hospital.”
Another injured student, Sohag from Dhaka College, said, “A teargas shell exploded near my feet. My eyes and face are burning. I’ve hurt my leg badly.”
Student blocked the roads around the Secretariat bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides from mid-day.
Law enforcement officers later cleared the roads using batons, sound grenades and teargas shells, and later after half-an hour the traffic and people’s movement became normal.
