A youth who was injured in Dhaka’s Science Lab area died Tuesday evening. The exact cause of his death remains unconfirmed.
Sources at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) reported that the youth, who was wearing black jeans and a navy blue T-shirt, was brought to the hospital by ambulance around 7pm. The on-duty doctor declared him dead upon arrival.
Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH Police Outpost, confirmed the death, noting that the youth’s head was wrapped with bandages.
Shakil, the helper of the ambulance that transported the youth, told medical reporters that they had brought him from Popular Medical College Hospital in Dhanmondi. Initially, the youth was rushed to Popular Medical College Hospital with severe head injuries before being transferred to DMCH.
When asked whether the youth’s injuries were related to the clashes between quota protesters and Bangladesh Chhatra League in the Science Lab area earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the ambulance helper said he was unsure about the circumstances of the injury. “We just brought him to DMCH from Dhanmondi’s Popular Medical College Hospital,” he said.
Earlier, an unidentified youth (aged around 25) was found dead near Dhaka College on Tuesday afternoon amid ongoing clashes between quota protesters and Chhatra League activists.
Md Bachhu Miah, in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, confirmed the death, saying that two pedestrians, Akash and Mamun, brought the body from the Dhaka College area.
The body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. According to Akash and Mamun, the youth was found lying in front of a refuelling station opposite Dhaka College.
Witnesses reported that the youth was a victim of the clashes between quota protesters and Chhatra League members. They said he was moving on a motorbike when the attack occurred.
3 killed in Chattogram
A violent clash between quota reform protesters and Chhatra League members in Chattogram’s Sholashohor to Muradpur area has resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Their bodies were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), where authorities confirmed the fatalities.
Md Saiful Islam, commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), confirmed the deaths of Akram, 24, a student of Chattogram College, and Faruq, 35, a pedestrian.
The identity of the other deceased could not be known immediately.
While marks of injuries were found on Faruq’s body, no visible injuries were observed on Akram’s body. The cause of Akram's death remains unknown, according to the CMP Commissioner.
Responding to inquiries, CMP Commissioner Saiful Islam mentioned that it is still unclear where the deaths occurred as clashes erupted in multiple locations, including Sholosohor No-2 Gate and Muradpur.
CMCH Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin also confirmed the deaths to the media.
The conflict turned the entire Sholashohor No-2 Gate to Muradpur area into a battlefield with continuous chases and violent confrontations. The clash, which began around 4pm on Tuesday marked the second day of such violence.
Students from Chittagong University and various other educational institutions gathered at Sholashohor station at 3 pm as part of the ongoing quota reform movement. The clash with Chhatra League and Jubo League members erupted around 4pm.
Both sides engaged in throwing bricks and stones, causing the area to resemble a battlefield. Sporadic explosions of cocktails were reported, and some individuals were seen with weapons.
However, law enforcement personnel were notably absent from the scene.
As of 5pm, clashes were still ongoing in the Muradpur-Sholashohor area. Protesters claimed that while they were heading towards the Sholashohor area via Muradpur to carry out their program, Chhatra League leaders and activists attacked them.
In self-defence, they retaliated, leading to the deaths of two people and injuries to several others.
The situation remains tense as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the ongoing violence in the area.
1 killed in Rangpur
Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), has been killed in a clash with the police. This incident happened around 2.30pm on Tuesday. Sayeed is reportedly a 12th batch student of BRUR English Department.
Confirming the matter, Director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital Dr Md Yunus Ali said, “Sayeed was brought to the hospital with bullet wounds. He was declared dead on arrival after examination.”
Sources say the students of BRUR - as part of the anti-quota movement - went towards the campus from the city’s Lalbagh area with a procession this afternoon. They were stopped by the police when they tried to enter the campus.
At one point, they clashed with the law enforcers. The police then fired rubber bullets at the protesters, leaving one student dead.
Responding to a query, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman said, “Students from various schools and colleges and other educational institutions joined the anti-quota protests.
“They clashed with the police. Many policemen have been injured. I heard that one died, I cannot say how.”