Students and job seekers, who have been holding blockades and demonstrations for weeks seeking rational reform of the quota system for government jobs in all grades, came under attack, allegedly carried out by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists, on Dhaka University campus on Monday afternoon.
The incident, which left at least 250 injured, occurred when the quota protesters gathered to stage a rally in response to comments made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina regarding the quota protesters
Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) sources confirmed that more than 200 students arrived with serious injuries.
Sources reported that BCL activists initiated the attack on protesting students near DU’s Bijoy Ekattor Hall at approximately 3pm, continuing until 4pm. The BCL activists were witnessed assaulting the protesters with sticks, stumps, and iron rods, resulting in numerous injuries.
Both sides (BCL and protesting students) had announced duelling programmes in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture, leading to unrest in the area from the morning, the sources added.
Students from various institutions, including Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Jagannath University, Dhaka College, Dhaka Medical College, Begum Badrunnessa Government Girls’ College, and Eden College, began gathering at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture around 12:30pm. They chanted slogans, sang protest songs, and recited poetry in support of their protest.
Late on Monday night, quota protesters announced that demonstrations would be held at all university campuses around the country from 3pm today, demanding retraction of the prime minister’s remarks, reformation of the quota system and protesting against the attack on them.
Escalation of violence
The Chhatra League had announced a rally in the same area at 3pm, but gathered instead at the Modhur Canteen as the Raju Memorial Sculpture area was occupied by quota protesters. The two sides began throwing volleys of brickbats at each other around 3:15pm in front of Dhaka University's Bijoy Ekattor Hall and Surja Sen Hall.
At one point during the chase and counter-chase, BCL leaders of Bangabandhu Hall came out wearing helmets and carrying rods and sticks, requesting the quota protesters not to advance.
The quota protesters refrained from advancing towards Bangabandhu Hall. BCL leaders from Ziaur Rahman Hall came out and chased the quota protesters. BCL activists were also taking positions near Mohsin Hall at the time.
United, BCL activists carried out an attack on the protesters with rods, pipes, and sharp weapons, injuring around 250 students, according to protesting students.
Ten crude bombs were also detonated in front of Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall in the afternoon. When the quota protesters went to DMCH, BCL took positions at Raju Memorial Sculpture and a group advanced towards the hospital, again attacking injured students inside the DMCH area, protesters said.
Upon receiving information, a group of students from Shahidullah Hall moved towards Dhaka Medical College Hospital to help the protesters.
Shots were fired towards Shahidullah Hall, they added.
DU campus resemble a war zone
The Monday protest stemmed from events on Sunday night when thousands of university students across Bangladesh took to the streets, primarily on their campuses, in reaction to remarks made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about the quota protesters.
Following the Monday attack, tensions gripped the Dhaka University campus, prompting the deployment of a significant police presence. At the time of filing this report, clashes between BCL activists and students were still ongoing, with tensions remaining high on the campus. The campus and surrounding areas have resembled a war zone, while the vicinity of Eden Mohila College has also remained tense and on edge.
Among the injured protesters were at least five to seven students, including 28-year-old Shahinur Shumi, the president of the Eden Mohila College branch of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, who suffered injuries in an attack by the college’s Chhatra League unit. Shumi was subsequently taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 2pm.
Rafiquzzaman Farid, general secretary of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said that they were set to hold a quota reform demonstration in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture when BCL attacked them. As members of the student organisation were gathering, they were attacked by 20-30 Chhatra League activists with hot water and were beaten, he added.
Statements from protest leaders
Nahid Islam, one of the coordinators of the quota protests, declared, “Our movement will continue and we will organise a procession on the DU campus to protest Chhatra League's attack.”
“The BCL men attacked the protesting students by hiring goons from outside the campus. We demand justice,” he added.
BCL's response
On the other hand, BCL blamed the quota protesters for the clash and violence and accused them of bringing outsiders to carry out the attacks.
The student wing leaders claimed that quota protesters attacked students who refused to join their rallies at Dhaka University’s Bijoy Ekattor Hall. Despite asserting that it was a non-violent movement, the protesters were reportedly armed with sticks and rods, they said, adding that protesters “vandalised the front gate of the hall.”
"Over a dozen of our activists were injured, many with head injuries," said Tanvir Hasan Saikat, general secretary of Chhatra League's DU unit.
Chhatra League Central Committee General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan described the incident as an attempt to destabilise the campus, claiming it was directed by Islami Chhatra Shibir and associated forces.
The Chhatra League leaders added that Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, has infiltrated the movement and is now trying to destabilise the situation on campus.
They said that with respect to the logical demand of quota protesters, Chhatra League stands with general students but opposes "hijacking" the movement.
Clashes at other universities
Clashes between BCL activists and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU), Chittagong University (CU), and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) also took place on Monday, leaving over 20 quota protesters injured.
At least 20 people, including one teacher, were injured after a clash erupted between JU students and the university unit of the Chhatra League. The injured students were taken to the university's medical centre for treatment.
The quota reform protesters began a procession in front of the university library at 7pm. When the procession reached Battala at 7:30pm, it encountered a Chhatra League procession coming from the opposite direction, leading to a clash between the two groups.
As of 9:30pm, the clash was still ongoing.
In a separate incident at Chittagong University this afternoon, a chase and counter-chase occurred between students and BCL activists, resulting in two people being seriously injured.
Additionally, BCL activists attacked quota protesters at SUST on Monday as they protested against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's comments on the quota protest. Three students were injured in the attack. They were admitted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Prime minister’s remark
During a press conference at her official residence on Sunday, Ganabhaban, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the quota protests, questioning, "Why is there so much anger against the Liberation War and freedom fighters? Will the grandchildren of freedom fighters not receive quotas? Will Razakars’ grandchildren get them? My question is to the people of the country."
Boishommo Birodhi Chhatra Andolon coordinator Sarjis Alam condemned the prime minister's remarks, stating that they had deeply upset the protesters.
In response to Hasina’s comments, Dhaka University students organised a procession at midnight, chanting slogans including, "Who are we? Who are we? Razakar! Razakar!" which appropriated a slogan from the Liberation War
After the quota protesters dispersed around 1 am, leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and its affiliate organisations held a demonstration on the campus, rallying at the Raju Sculpture after 3 am.
Saddam Hussain, the president of the student organisation, announced a protest programme at 3pm on Monday at the same venue.
The HC order that started it all
Over the past two weeks, students and job seekers in Bangladesh have been actively protesting, demanding reforms to the quota system in government jobs in all grades. This movement started following a High Court decision on June 5, which declared illegal a 2018 government circular that had abolished the 30 per cent quota for the children of freedom fighters in first and second-class government jobs.
In response to this ruling, on July 10, the Supreme Court issued a status quo on the High Court's judgment, temporarily halting its implementation. The Appellate Division's order effectively maintains the status of the 2018 cancellation until further court deliberations can take place.
The protests, which began on July 2, have seen widespread participation from university students who have been staging sit-ins, marches, and road blockades. The protesters argue that the current quota system is outdated and unfair, calling for a more rational and merit-based approach to government job recruitment.
