Violent unrest has gripped the entire country as protesters – under the banner of Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon – clashed with Awami League, Chhatra League, and police personnel throughout Bangladesh on Sunday.
Students are pressing home their one-point demand – the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and her cabinet members. Unrest began in different districts from Sunday morning.
Till the filing on this report, compiled by Amader Shomoy correspondents, Six people were killed in Narsingdi, five in Feni, five in Rangpur, four in Sirajganj, four in Kishoreganj, four in capital Dhaka, four in Bogra, three in Munshiganj, three in Magura, three in Bhola, three in Pabna, two in Sylhet, two in Comilla, one in Jaipurhat and one in Barisal.
Munshiganj
Munshiganj turned into a warzone amid clashes centered on the student movement. Munshiganj General Hospital supervisor Abu Hena Jamal confirmed that three people were shot dead in the clash.
Besides, at least ten people were reported to have been shot.
Rangpur
Rangpur Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League have clashed with students. More than 50 people, including journalists, were injured in the violence.
Eyewitnesses say students started gathering at Rangpur town hall with sticks from 10am. A clash started around 11am when around 1,000 leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliate organisations marched towards the town hall from the party office adjacent to the Jahaz Company intersection of the city.
Magura
District Chhatra Dal Senior Joint General Secretary Mehedi Hasan (Rabbi) was killed in a clash with police and Awami League activists in Magura. Besides, two more were killed.
Rajshahi
Students of various schools and colleges of Rajshahi city gathered in front of the Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET) gate demanding resignation of the government.
At this time, the teachers of Rajshahi University and RUET also joined the protest in solidarity.
Khulna
Protesters – amid the all-out non-cooperation movement – have burned the central office of district and metropolitan Awami League. The district office of the ruling party was set on fire at around 11:30am on Sunday.
At that time, a few leaders and activists were there in front of the Awami League office, but they left after being chased by the protesters.
Barishal
Protesters have set fire to the house of State Minister for Water Resources Col (retd) Zahid Farooq Shamim in Barishal. The incident took place in the New Circular Road around 11:30am on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses say the protesters marched and attacked the state minister's residence. At that time, nearly 50 motorcycles in front of the house were torched. The state minister's house was set on fire soon after.
Kishoreganj
The protesters have occupied the district town. They have set fire to the district Awami League office. This incident happened around 11:30am. They set fire to the road and motorcycles as well.
Rangpur
The streets of Rangpur have erupted with protests. People, including students of various educational institutions, started gathering in front of Rangpur Town Hall from morning.
They started their protest by blocking the main road. Shops, shopping malls in the city are closed. Limited number of rickshaws and auto-rickshaws are however plying the roads.
The number of protesters gathering around the city is increasing gradually. Groups of students from different areas are arriving at the gathering place.
Patuakhali
Since 10am, students and people of different classes and professions, along with leaders of Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon movement, have taken positions at the Patuakhali intersection of the Kuakata-Dhaka highway, and stopped all traffics.
Awami League activists were also seen gathering in different areas of the city. Police, RAB, and other law enforcement personnel are on high alert in key areas of the city.
Rajbari
In Rajbari, students have carried out a street and wall writing programme in support of their one-point demand.
Around 7am, students of various schools and colleges carried out this programme by writing different slogans on the streets and walls of Panna Chatwar area of the district town.
Jahangirnagar University
Jahangirnagar University students have taken a stand on the Dhaka-Aricha highway. From 11am, students gathered at the university’s Shahid Minar. Later, they brought out a procession from there and took a stand on the Dhaka-Aricha highway.
Students from neighboring schools, colleges and other universities also participated in the programme.
Feni
Protesting students blocked the road in Mohipal area of Dhaka-Chittagong highway. At that time, they started shouting slogans at the police. A large number of BGB, RAB and police personnel are present in this area.
Gazipur
At 10:30am, hundreds of students took a protest march from Safipur Bazar of Kaliakair Upazila to Chandra Mor area, and blocked the highway. Later, the protesters set fire to the upazila Awami League office in Chandra Trimor area.
At that time, when Awami League leaders and activists stood in front of the Chandra party office, they were chased by the protesting students.
Nilphamari
Anti-discrimination students and police face off in Nilphamari. As the protests continue, there is a tense situation in the city. Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tanvirul Islam said the police are in a firm position to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the protest.
Rangamati
The Chhatra League chased students in Rangamati. Several people were injured. Dr Shaukat Akbar, in-charge of General Hospital, said three people have been admitted to the Sadar Hospital in Rangamati.
Laxmipur
Awami League leaders and activists clashed in Laxmipur. At least 15 people from both sides were injured. Around 12pm, the clash and chase took place in front of Sadar Upazila Parishad and Madam Bridge area.
In North Temuhani of the city, Awami League leaders and activists and the protesters, including students in Madam Bridge, Jhumur area have taken a stand with sticks. They are chanting slogans.
Sirajganj
At around 12 noon, a car was set on fire and vandalised by an attack on the Hatikumrul Highway police station in Sirajganj. At that time, students agitating against discrimination set fire to the wrecker (car to remove broken vehicles) and the police van used for patrolling inside the boundary wall of the highway police station. At the same time hundreds of students blocked Bangabandhu Setu West Road.
Sylhet
Sylhet has become a battlefield in the clash between the police and the agitating students. The clash started at court point area of the city around 12 noon. Police fired heavy tear gas, live bullets and sound grenades to disperse the protesters.
It has been reported that several people including children were injured. One of them was sent to the hospital with bullet injuries.
Jhalakathi
In Jhalakathi, there was a fight between Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon activists and ruling party supporters including Chhatra League. At least 50 people were injured on both sides.
To bring the situation under control, the police fired tear shells and charged batons to disperse the rioters. The students occupied the entire city of Jhalkathi.
Chandpur
In the ongoing non-cooperation movement of the anti-discrimination student movement, the protestors are clashing with the Chhatra League-Youth League in Chandpur.
At least 30 leaders and activists of Chhatra League and protesting students were injured in the clash. Apart from this, 3 journalists were injured in the brick-pelting of the Chhatra League.
