The 'Complete Shutdown' program called by the anti-discrimination student movement is underway. There are reports of students clashing with the police in different parts of Dhaka.
After 12 noon on Thursday (July 18), students took up positions at various points in the capital. After that, when they repeatedly protested, the police tried to disperse the students by throwing sound grenades. The situation became more heated and clashed. It is still running in most places.
It is known that the clash took the worst shape in Mirpur 10. The conflict does not stop here. At least 50 agitating students were injured by rubber bullets here. Police are firing rubber bullets, tear gas, and sound grenades at the protesting students.
Police can be seen attacking the protesting students at Mirpur 12. Students in white clothes are also seen being beaten.
Meanwhile, students of North South University, IUB, and AIUB staged a blockade from New Bazar in the capital to Jamuna Future Park and Kuril Bishwaroad. The police have also gathered at the scene; Tear shells are constantly being fired. Police were also seen firing tear gas shells around the campuses of BRAC University and Canadian University of Bangladesh. Several students were reportedly injured in the clash.
From 11:00 am, there were reports of clashes between law and order forces and protesting students in Shonir Akhra, Kajla and Jatrabari areas. At this time, the agitating students tried to come towards Jatrabari with a procession from Shonir Akhra area. At that time, the police fired tear gas and sound grenades to stop them. Then the clash started between the two sides.
In Jatrabari, the agitating students were pelting bricks at the law and order enforcement in the toll plaza area of Mayor Hanif flyover. On the other hand, the police fired tear gas and sound grenades. The clash has spread from Shonir Akhra to Jatrabari.
Apart from this, there is also a clash between the quota agitators and the police in the Science Laboratory area. At this time, the agitators throwing stones at the police. The police are also throwing grenades at them.
However, after Wednesday's clash, silence is prevailing in the Dhaka University campus today. At this time, BGB members were seen rehearsing in the university area. Hundreds of BGB members were stationed at the gate of TSC and Suhrawardy Udyan adjacent to TSC.
On Thursday, 229 platoons of BGB were deployed across the country including Dhaka to maintain law and order situation, said the public relations of BGB headquarters.
Earlier, Asif Mahmud announced the 'Complete Shutdown' program in a statement on his Facebook page on Wednesday evening. In the statement, he said, 'We are announcing a complete shutdown on July 18 to protest the attack on the peaceful movement of students, ensure a terror-free campus and unilaterally demand.'
Asif Mahmud said, 'Only hospitals and emergency services will not open the doors of any institution, no vehicles will run on the road except for ambulances.' I am calling on every school, college, university, private university, and madrasa students across the country to make tomorrow's program a success.
