Dhaka College closes dorms

The authorities closed dormitories at Dhaka College as more than 30 people, including journalists, got hurt in sporadic clashes between students and New Market traders on Tuesday.

The halls have been shut until May 05 and students asked to vacate by the afternoon as chase and counter chase between two groups continued for hours turning the busy area a veritable battlefield.

Rejecting the decision on the closure of their educational institution, the agitating students vowed to stay on the streets.

Seven-college movement chief coordinator Ismail Samrat told the media that they would hold a demonstration in Nilkhet area at 11:00 am today (Wednesday) in protest of the attacks on them.

He alleged that the traders and their employees attacked some of their students following an altercation that triggered the clash.

"More than 30 of our students were injured in the clashes. Four to five are in a critical condition."

The students of Dhaka College claimed the situation worsened after police had attacked them on behalf of the traders.

The clash started in the early hour of Tuesday and lasted until 5:00 pm of the day.

An FE investigation finds a clash first ensued between two salespersons of two fast-food shops named 'Welcome Fast Food' and 'Capital Fast Food'.

During iftar time on Monday evening, 'Welcome Fast Food' employee Bappy and 'Capital Fast Food' employee Kawser were locked in a clash for arranging iftar items outside their shops.

Later at 11:00 pm, Bappy came with some of his followers to attack Kawser but they got injured and left the market.

After 12:00 am, Bappy again attacked Kawser with some Dhaka College students. But that time too, some students were beaten up by New Market employees.

Later, the students mustered and vandalised some shops. Traders also countered, leading to a clash.

'Welcome Fast Food' owner Rafiq confirmed this to FE.

The clash resumed on Tuesday morning on a large scale as the police fired teargas shells, rubber bullets and used water cannon to disperse the protesters.

Both groups, armed with rod and sticks, were seen involving in chase and counter chase with throwing brick chips and stones throughout the day that rocked the entire area.

The clashes also caused nagging congestion in the city as vehicular movement on New Market-Mirpur road and its nearby streets remained snapped fully.

Like student protesters, traders also blamed the police for their inactiveness in handling with the situation that forced them to shut shops during this peak Ramadan trading time.

Kamrul Islam, who owns a shop in New Market, says the police would have taken security arrangements soon after the outbreak of the violence.

Another trader, Ataur Rahman, said they have not been able to do business for the past two years due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

As the situation returns to normal, they resumed trade with more investment in the new normal business climate.

"Our business is doing well ahead of Eid… It will be difficult for us to overcome the losses due to this clash. We urge the government to resolve this issue soon," adds Mr Rahman.

In another development, students of Dhaka University, Eden Mohila College and several institutions also took to the streets against brutal attacks by traders.

They also demanded that the traders be punished.

Uneasy calm lies in New Market area as the clashes continue till the filing of this report around 9:00 pm.

Deepto TV journalist Asif Sumit and its cameraperson, SA TV reporter Tuhin and cameraperson Kabir Hossain, My TV reporter Danny Drong and RTV cameraperson Sumon Dey were injured during the clash.

Photographer of The Daily Star Prabir Das and reporter of Ajker Patrika Al Amin Raju were allegedly beaten up by traders during the clash.

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