Anti-quota unrest sweeps country

Tensions have flared up as the students' quota-reform movement consumed all districts on Saturday, report our correspondents from across the country.

In Sylhet, the city wore a deserted look with almost no vehicular movement and shops shut since early morning.

However, only a few rickshaws and autos were seen plying the streets sporadically for emergencies. Again, only a few vegetable vendors were seen in places.

The police used loudhailers in the city with a call for the people to remain calm.

However, commoners' movement shrank at upazila level too with a few shops open.

No bus or other vehicles were plying to and from the city's central bus terminal at Kodomtoli like Friday.

Eyewitness alleged that journalist ATM Torab was killed in police firing as he was present in the city's court area after Friday's Juma prayers.

The victim was the Sylhet correspondent of the Naya Diganta, also a staff reporter and photographer of regional daily 'Jalalabad'.

The namaz-e-janaza of the slain journalist was held at Hazrat Manik Pir (RA) graveyard on Saturday.

In Rajshahi, most of the streets looked empty as police frisked people at various points in the city since Saturday morning.

A few went outside for emergencies and walked home as lawmen did not allow any traffic to move.

All shops and restaurants remained shut due to curfew.

Jamirul Islam, additional deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said they deployed police at various points to ensure public safety.

In Khulna, shops and business establishments were closed in the city on Saturday. A few rickshaws and motor vehicles were seen plying the streets.

However, police and BGB men were patrolling the city. Bank and financial institutions were shut on weekend.

Khulna Metropolitan Police reported no untoward incident till the filing of this report in the afternoon.

In Rangpur, the deployment of army due to widespread anti-quota clashes has panicked people.

Many residents were staying indoors and did not dare to venture out. As a result, the roads of Rangpur city have remained almost vacant.

Almost all the shops have remained closed except medicines and food shops. Very few vehicles were seen.

However, no clash took place between quota protesters and law-enforcers as the former remained absent on roads on Saturday.

In Lalmonirhat, police filed a case against 600-700 named and unnamed persons on Saturday following Friday's incident here.

BNP Rangpur Division organising secretary and the district BNP president Asadul Habib Dulu is the prime accused in the case. Officer-in-charge of Lalmonirhat Sadar police station Omar Faruk confirmed it.

Overall situation turned normal in all five upazilas after the imposition of curfew.

On Friday evening, several hundred quota protesters students took position at Mission Square. At the same time, several thousands of BNP activities brought out a rally as part of their nationwide programme.

However, a tense situation arose as some activists threw bricks on law-enforcers. Later, police chased the activists, fired rubber bullets and teargas shells.

They detained two BNP activists following the incident.

In Pabna, a tripartite police-Chhatra League-quota protester clash occurred at Pabna central bus terminal, leaving at least 15 injured on both sides at 11:30 am.

The protesters damaged five motorbikes of BCL leaders and activists as they fled Bottala Degree College at 12:15 pm.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to take control of the situation. BGB, police, RAB and other law-enforcers were thick on the ground in the town.

There was no movement of any short- or long-haul traffic from the terminal, leaving passengers in the lurch.

In Chandpur, the overall situation has remained calm after curfew. Most shops were shut. Townies were much less than normal on roads.

No bus, truck or pickup piled. But a small number of CNG- and battery-run auto-rickshaws were carrying people at high fares.

The influx of wage-earners to the town from rural areas was few.

An old mobile cloth vendor, Abdul Mannan (60), said he profited Tk 30 by selling two pillow covers since morning.

For want of any bus, many people like Prof Arif Hossain of Shariatpur could not go to Cumilla.

A goods truck was torched by miscreants on Chandpur-Cumilla regional highway at Hajiganj on Friday night. A pickup was also burnt to ashes in Pilot High School area. Hajiganj Firefighters doused the fire.

In Cox's Bazar, no vehicles run between the tourism city of Cox's Bazar and Dhaka. So, more than 1,000 tourists remained captive here.

Masum Ahmed, a tourist came from Dhaka, said, "My family and I came to Cox's Bazar on Thursday. Student movement is going on countrywide. Therefore, bus and train operations are completely shut. We're virtually captive here with no internet for communication."

Meanwhile, students, visitors and others were not allowed at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University after curfew declaration.

"Only resident teachers and officials are allowed. The university has taken stringent measures to ensure their safety," said Proctor Sanjay Kumar Mukharjee.