As chaos gripped the country amid widespread clashes, the government offered urgent talks with the quota protesters and announced its decision to propose the government-job quota cut to 20 per cent in advanced apex-court hearings next Sunday.
There was, however, no response from the protesters as clashes in the capital and some other parts of Bangladesh had been reported until this report came at 10pm amid some arson attacks.
Police sources and firsthand reports said throngs of rioters torched
the state medium BTV building and a police station. The BTV transmission snapped.
With Thursday's casualties the death toll rose to at least 23. There were apprehensions that the figure could rise further.
Chase-and counter-chase between the students on the one side and law-enforcers and ruling-party activists on the other went on all day long, after Wednesday's daylong and overnight clashes during the protest programme dubbed 'complete shutdown'.
Quota-reform activists from all universities, colleges and even schools took to streets across the country while police, RAB and ruling-party activists were also on roads and highways trying to take control of the situation.
Four of nine killed in clashes in different areas of Dhaka died at the Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hospital in Uttara.
Mizanur Rahman, the hospital director, said that two of them are students, while details about another two were not immediately known.
Earlier, reports indicated that two people died in clashes with the police and RAB in Uttara. One died before reaching Uttara Modern Medical College Hospital and another at Uttara Crescent Hospital, confirmed by doctors from both hospitals.
Uttara Modern Medical College Hospital sources said around 500 people took treatment at the hospital following the clashes in Uttara area.
In total, six deaths have been confirmed in Uttara according to hospital sources.
Additionally, reports have emerged of the death of a student from Dhaka Residential Model College, a pedestrian in Rampura, a rickshaw-puller in Jatrabari, a student in Savar, and another student in Madaripur, four later in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, two in Narsingdi and two in Chattogram.
Protests in Jatrabari led to a clash with police from the morning. By evening, an injured rickshaw driver was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The identity of the rickshaw-puller remains unknown, but he was approximately 30 years old.
Violence was on stream in several other areas of Dhaka. Clashes between police and students began in Merul Badda in the morning, spreading to Rampura and Malibagh areas.
In Rampura, the BTV building was attacked and vandalized and set on fire.
Running street battles were going on in Shanir Akhara area.
Meanwhile, police and Awami League activists had clashed with the demonstrating students in Dhanmondi-27 area of the capital since morning.
An eleventh-class student of Residential Model College of Dhaka named Tahmid was killed in the violence in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, public transport in the capital and elsewhere in the country came to a standstill as the quota-reform movement's 'complete shutdown' took effect.
Observations revealed a few sporadic BRTC buses, but private cars and other public transport were almost non-existent.
Thursdays usually have heavy traffic, but the roads were mostly desolate. Despite the reduced traffic, there was a significant police, RAB presence at major intersections.
Auto-rickshaws were still operating in the narrow streets, though their numbers were notably lower.
Key locations such as Shyamoli, Farmgate, Press Club, Motijheel, Rampura Bridge, Kakrail Junction, Topkhana Road, Paltan Junction, and Zero Point had almost no local buses.
Violent clashes were seen ongoing on since morning between the police and protesters in the capital's Jatrabari area.
In the Thursday evening, a man brought a severely injured rickshaw-puller from there to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
After examination, the doctors declared him dead.
The identity of the deceased rickshaw driver is unknown. He is estimated to be around 30 years old.
A violent clash was seen ongoing between the quota reform protesters and the police in Nilkhet, the capital city.
The confrontation began around 5:00 PM near Gate No. 2 of New Market.
Earlier, the protesters tried to take to the streets in the same area. When the police put barriers, a clash broke out between the two sides.
Eyewitnesses reported that around 5:00 PM, the protesters attempted to block the Nilkhet intersection.
At this point, the police tried to stop them, leading to a violent clash.
The police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells at the protesters, who responded by throwing bricks.
Protesters surrounded the Uttara East Police Station.
Several thousand protesters gathered there, while the police remain inside the station. Between 6 PM and 6:30 PM, seven protesters were reported injured.
Witnesses said a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) vehicle was set on fire in the capital's Hatirjheel area. The incident occurred around 6:00 PM.
At least 30 vehicles at the Bridge Department office (Setu Bhaban) were set ablaze around at 5:00 pm which police claimed by protestors.
All officials, including the Bridges Secretary, were inside the building at that time.
Sajedul Haque Shawon, a microbus owner and eyewitness, told the FE that 30 to 40 cars were torched at around 5:30 pm.
"My car also was set on fire at the time," he said.
The fire department said a total of 25 fire incidents, including 15 in Dhaka, across the country took place on the day.
Our CHATTOGRAM correspondent adds: At least 21 students were injured in clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Jubo League, police and activists of 'quota-reform movement' in Bohaddarhat area in the port city at 2:00 pm.
Of the bullet-injured persons, condition of Ismail Hussain and Mohammed Ilias was "critical".
The injured are undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital and clinics in the port city.
"Police fired teargas and rubber bullets and charged lethal bullets to disperse the agitating students," says an eyewitness account.
At the same time, BCL and Jubo League were seen attacking them with firearms, rods and lethal weapons.
The 'complete shutdown' called by 'Quota Reform Movement' caused a collapse in the port city.
There were fewer people than usual on the streets of the port city of Chattogram on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the loading and unloading in Chittagong Port were reported normal.
But delivery of cargos was suspended. Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) sources said the loading and unloading continued, but delivery was hampered as trucks could not go to the destinations due to blockade for 'complete shutdown'.
There were few vehicles seen plying the road in Chattogram.
Besides, the Chattogram-Dhaka highway was blocked at many places in Chattogram as well as nearby districts.
As a result, the not any inter-district buses or trucks ran on the road today, the day of a 'complete shutdown' called by quota protesters across the country.
Traffic was also light as people are worried about facing difficulties if they leave home sans urgent need.
A judicial inquiry committee headed by Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman has been formed to investigate the incidents of violence that took place across the country
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