Home ›› 21 Apr 2022 ›› Front
Fresh tension gripped the capital’s New Market area on Wednesday afternoon after several crude bomb explosions rocked the Dhaka College campus, causing city dwellers to flee from the scene fearing another round of clashes between traders and students.
Though some businesses had reopened after being shut for more than a day, traders quickly closed shutters after the blasts. The clashes that began around Monday midnight and continued sporadically throughout Tuesday left at least 50 people injured and one dead so far. Confirming the matter, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s assistant commissioner for New Market zone Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman said six crude bomb explosions occurred in that area, and a police team has been dispatched to investigate the matter.
Eyewitnesses say the explosions occurred around 4:40pm on the outside of Dhaka College campus. Meanwhile, the students have threatened to launch protests yet again if traders in the New Market area reopen shops before their demands are met.
Students are demanding legal action for the alleged attack on their peers, firing at a college building and the use of teargas shells during sporadic clashes in the New Market area.
Speaking to The Business Post, New Market Business Owners’ Association Secretary Mahbubul Haque said, “Our association is scheduled to meet with Dhaka College teachers and student leaders tonight [Wednesday] to discuss a peaceful way to resolve the ongoing situation.”
New Market Business Owners’ Association President Dewan Aminul Islam had earlier said that traders in the New Market area will begin opening their shops after Iftar on Wednesday.
At a press briefing the same day, Shaheen had said, “We have spoken with the home minister. He will discuss the issue and give us a decision. We want a peaceful resolution of this situation.
“I am urging everyone concerned not to issue provocative remarks, statements and posts about this incident. I am also requesting students of the Dhaka College to be considerate.”
On a spot visit to the New Market area, the correspondent found that a large number of police personnel had been deployed in the area.
Aminul Islam, proprietor of Rony Fashion, said, “We are incurring huge losses ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Our sales volume was more than Tk 1 lakh daily just a few days ago, but now no shopper is visiting this area out of safety concerns.”
Many other traders in the area have echoed Aminul’s view.
What happened Monday midnight?
The New Market traders and Dhaka College students have been blaming each other for the violent clash that left one person dead, and injured dozens of others.
Students alleged that that a few shopkeepers had attacked and stabbed a few of their peers when they visited the New Market area on Monday midnight for shopping.
However, a trader in the area Elias Hossain said, “That night, the shop staff of Capital Fast Food and Welcome Fast Food had engaged in scuffle. Both shops are located inside gate number four.
“Later, the owner of Welcome Fast Food called in some Dhaka College students. A few minutes later, a group of students came to the spot and began beating the Capital Fast Food staff. The fighting quickly spread like wildfire, and soon the whole market became involved.”
New Market Business Owners’ Association President Dewan Aminul Islam Shaheen said, “We have enough footage of the clash captured on CCTV systems. The footage shows several young men coming into the market wearing motorbike helmets and attacking shop staff.
“We will support law enforcing agencies in their investigation into the incident, and help them unearth the reason behind the clash.”
Shaheen further claimed that a third party got involved with the mob that beat journalists, vandalised ambulances and torched assets, but he did not disclose any names.
A number of shop employees also claimed that a group of young men came into the New Market area wearing motorbike helmets, and attacked people including journalists during clashes.
Nahid Hasan, 18, who worked for a courier service, got injured in the clash on Tuesday and later died while undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
Around 24 people including New Market traders, shop employees and hawkers who sustained varying degrees of injury are currently undergoing treatment at the same hospital. The clashes also left seven journalists injured.
Dhaka College halts classes, exams
Last Tuesday, Dhaka College suspended all classes and exams, and closed dormitories until May 5, due to the sporadic clashes between students and traders since Monday night.
On the same day, students from the Dhaka University and Eden Mohila College took to the streets in the New Market area on April 19, protesting the alleged attack on their peers.
