Ruling Awami League's student wing Chhatra League leaders and activists, wearing helmets and wielding sticks, attack protesters demanding reform of civil service job quotas on Dhaka University campus on Monday. — FE Photo 
Scores were injured in clashes between campaigners and pro-government activists as protracted job-quota-reform movement erupted into violence Monday that turned the Dhaka University campus into a veritable battlefield.
Confrontation was also reported from Chattogram, Rajshahi and few other areas, and student protesters barricaded roads in different parts of the country.
A concurrent pension-reform strike by public universities' teachers across the country turned the situation in the academia for the worse as classes, examinations and official works remained at a standstill.
Witnesses said the campaigners' self-proclaimed 'Razakar' slogans on campuses since Sunday midnight and ruling side's 'banish-Razakar' posture only fanned flames of unrest.
Firsthand reports by FE reporters said the Dhaka University campus -- the vantage ground of all movements in the country, including Bangladesh's independence struggles -- turned into a battlefield as a series of clashes and chase-and counter-chase took place on the day between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and the quota-reform movement.
The incidents left over 200 injured, and seriously wounded 11 were kept hospitalized for further treatment.
The flames of unrest spread fast to other universities, including Jahangir Nagar, Chattogram, Khulna and Rajshahi.
According to eyewitness accounts and victims and other sources, the clashes scattered to different spots of the Dhaka University campus, including Bijoy Ekattor Hall, Shahidullah Hall, Raju Sculpture, Doyel Chattar and DMCH premises, as the ruling-party supporters wielding clubs chased the campaigners for a recast in the quota system in government recruitment.
They said the BCL activists dispersed the quota reformists, including female students, using stick, rod, and local sharp weapons.
"Both sides hurled brick chips at each other, as well as several cocktails were also blasted," says a firsthand account of the melee.
Even some BCL leaders and activists took position in front of the DMCH emergency unit to prevent quota reformists from getting in, they alleged.
At around 5:30pm BCL activists launched an attack on the students representing the quota-reform movement in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) emergency premises. Later, chase-and counter-chase occurred there. At one point--allegations have it--they also stormed in the medical emergency to assault quota activists.
Additional members of Ansar were deployed in the DMCH area.
Many injured students were seen going to other hospitals to get treatment as they were barred from getting in the nearby DMCH.
A DU student, Shakhawat Hossain, told the journalists that the leaders and activists of Chhatra League assaulted female students "in broad daylight".
"They were beaten with sticks and other sharp weapons. They (BCL) men attacked my fellow students and fractured their heads," he said.
Another student, Russell Ahmed, who was also injured in the attack, claimed at least three hundred students were injured in the mayhem.
"My sisters' veils were pulled and beaten in front of my eyes. Assaulters cracked my roommate's head with a brick, and also fractured my head," he said, adding that there were many others seriously injured and receiving treatment elsewhere.
Witnesses also said some took part in the attack by wearing helmets and masks to hide their identities. Also several cocktails went off.
The agitating students expressed their anger saying that outsiders came and attacked the protesting students.
As both sides took position on the campus after 3:00pm, the clash first erupted at Bijoy Ekattor Hall and gradually spread to other places, including Mal Chattar, VC Chattar, Shahidullah hall etc.
Agitating students said Chhatra League activists were roaming across the campus for quota protesters and assaulting them. They attacked the protesters and beat them severely.
Chhatra League activists were seen marching with sticks and baseball bats.
The sporadic clashes also left several journalists wounded, including the Daily Star photojournalist Prabir Das.
Quota reformists started gathering at Raju Sculpture at 1.00 pm demanding retraction of Prime Minister's statement which hurt the quota reformists.
Students from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET, DU-affiliated seven colleges and other job-aspirants joined the programme.
They were shouting slogans 'neither you are nor am I Rajakar' , 'no quota, merit, merit, and merit'.
On Sunday night, DU students in different dormitories enchanted slogans and brought out processions calling 'Razakar' themselves to protest government's stance on quota reform.
Earlier, responding to a query at a press conference on Sunday, Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina said: "The grandchildren of the freedom fighters will not get jobs. Will the grandchildren of Razakars get jobs?"
Meanwhile, Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal presided over an emergency meeting of the Provost Committee of DU at 5pm, taking stock of the latest situation.
The meeting reviewed the overall situation and made five decisions regarding maintaining a peaceful academic environment at dormitories.
They also decided to keep the dormitories free of outsiders, prevent rumour and propaganda.
The provost body also decided "if anyone was involved in subversive activities, strict action will be taken as per the rules of the university".
One of the leading coordinators of the quota-reform movement, Nahid Islam, said Monday was 'very sad' day for the DU.
"I don't know the exact number of the injured. The situation at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital is horrible," he said.
He came up with the remarks through a video post on the Facebook.
Terming the reform activists of BNP- Zamat, DU BCL President, Mazharul Kabir Shoyon warned the protesters.
He said they were observing the situation for the last 10 days, but couldn't take any action.
"They want to unrest the campus situation for their own intention. They are not common students, they are the activists of BNP Zamat," he said.
At least 20-30 BCL leaders were also injured in the clashes, added the BCL leader.
Clashes were taking place till the filing of the report at 9.30pm.
JU correspondent adds: over 50 students-- including 20 critical-- were also injured in Jahangir Nagar University as BCL men attacked them.
The quota reform activists at 6:30 pm began their pre-announced protest march from the Central Library, circling various roads of the university. Upon reaching the area near Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall at 7:20 pm, Chhatra League activists attacked them with native weapons under the cover of darkness, with shop lights turned off of the Bot-tola area.
Many students were seen arriving at the university medical centre with serious injuries. Movement coordinator Abdur Rashid Jitu and Mahfuz Islam Megh were sent to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar due to severe injuries.
Additionally, coordinators Zahidul Islam, Zahidul Islam Bappi, and Tauhid Siam were seriously injured and taken to the university medical center.
Professor Aolad Hossain from the Chemistry Department was seriously injured during the clash.
Chhatra League general secretary Habibur Rahman Liton and organizational secretary Chinmoy Sarkar were also injured and taken to the medical centre.
Dr. Amitabh, the doctor in charge of the university's medical centre, said, "I arrived at 8 o'clock and found at least 30 people in a bloody state. At least half a hundred students have been treated for injuries. Among them, at least 20-25 have been sent to Enam Medical in Savar with serious injuries."
Arif Sohel, Coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said, "We were carrying out a peaceful march in the Bangabandhu Hall area when BCL terrorists attacked us. They were already prepared with batons, sticks, small hammers, and other native weapons. Despite knowing about it beforehand, the university administration played the role of a silent spectator."
As of the last writing of this report at 9:20, the protests by the agitators were ongoing after the clash. They held the further rally on the Shahid Minar premises and headed towards the VC's residence, planning to hold a sit-in there.
Chattogram correspondent adds: BCL men attacked agitating students at Chittagong University (CU), resulting in two serious injuries on the day. The incident occurred around 3:30 pm near Shaheed Minar and Katapahar Road on the university campus.
Earlier in the day, at approximately 2:30 pm, Chhatra League members forcibly picked up Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi, the coordinator of the quota reform movement, from a city-bound shuttle train. Rafi was then taken to the proctor's office after being forced to join a BCL procession. Witnesses reported that BCL followers argued with the university proctor, demanding Rafi's expulsion.
The BCL leaders claimed that Rafi was admitted to the university under the freedom fighter quota and argued that his involvement in the quota reform movement disqualified him from continuing his studies at the university.
This violent confrontation follows an earlier attack on Sunday at around 11:00 pm, when BCL members targeted quota-reform activists who were protesting against the Prime Minister's speech on the quota issue.
The agitating students on Monday announced their next programme. Demonstration marches and rallies will be held across the country on Tuesday at 3 pm to protest the attack by BCL and to press for withdrawal of the Prime Minister's statement and their one-point demand. Later, they will announce blockade across the country on Tuesday.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
