Students are holding demonstrations in the city’s Shahbagh area on Thursday, demanding reform in the quota system for entering government jobs. They broke through a barricade around 5:30pm and gathered in droves at the busy intersection.
Some students were seen shouting slogans on top of the police water cannon vehicle.
The protesting students had initially gathered in front of the Dhaka University central library around 4pm. Later they moved to Shahbagh after holding a procession throughout the campus.
When the students reached Shahbagh, they had an argument with the police. They broke the barricade installed by the police in a bid to gather in the Shahbagh intersection.
Read also Protesters start blockade in Dhaka amid police warning
Later, around 5:30pm, the students broke through the barricade while chanting slogans. Police personnel were deployed nearby. Apart from this, the protesters are moving towards Hotel Intercontinental, and trying to take up positions at the intersection there.
Reporter, cameraman attacked, says Somoy TV
Somoy TV reporter Twoha Khan Tamim and cameraman Prince Arefin came under attack while covering the anti-quota protests in Shahbagh this evening, the media outlet reported. Arefin's video camera was damaged in the process, it says.
The incident occurred around 5:45pm and was captured on video obtained by Somoy TV. The footage shows protesters suddenly turning on the journalists. A youth, identified by his black jersey with the name "Abir" and a headband featuring the Bangladeshi flag, repeatedly struck Tamim.
At one point, the youth grabbed a helmet from another individual and advanced towards Tamim to strike him further.
From 4pm, a significant police presence was observed in various locations around Shahbagh. Shortly before 5pm, students began marching from Dhaka University towards Shahbagh with various slogans, but were initially stopped by a police barricade, leading to a brief scuffle.
Eventually, the protesters broke through the barricade and occupied the area under the Shahbagh intersection and metro station, forcing the police to retreat. Some students climbed onto police vehicles in celebration, chanting slogans.
The protests led to a complete shutdown of traffic from Shahbagh to Elephant Road, Bangla Motor, Matsya Bhaban, and TSC.
Long tailback on Dhaka-Aricha highway
Students of Jahangirnagar University blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway on Thursday as part of the half-day Bangla blockade programme of the quota protestors.
The students put up barricade on the highway near the main gate of the university from 4pm, leading to traffic jams on both sides the highway. Although the protestors faced obstruction from the police they continued the demonstration, reports UNB.
Students and job aspirants started gathering in front of the central library of the university at noon. Later, they brought out a procession under the banner of “Boishommo Birodhi Chatra Andolon.”
The procession paraded a few roads and when it reached the main gate of the university, it was blocked by the proctorial team.
Later, when the protesters crossed the main gate, police stopped them. After an argument with the police for at least 15 minutes, the students ignored the police and blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway.
At least 500 police members were seen in the main gate area at that time. The protesting students said the blockade will continue until their one-point demand is met.
