Chase counter-chase at Merul Badda leaves at least 10 injured, police stepped back

Students advocating for quota abolishment in government jobs gathered in front of BRAC University in Dhaka‍‍`s Merul Badda after 10:30am on Thursday. 

By 11:15 pm, the situation escalated as police attempted to disperse the protesters. Initially retreating, the students later confronted the police, leading to exchanges of bricks and sound grenades. 

However, students from East West University and other nearby universities joined the protest .

Cops lobbed tear gas shells an attempt to scatter the demonstrators. Currently, some students have taken shelter inside BRAC University, and some others created blockade at the road. Traffic in the Merul Badda area has come to a stand still, as per our correspondent.

Around 11am, police entered at the nearby Canadian University of Bangladesh, while protesters had gathered outside. 

At approximately 11:30 am, police fired rubber bullets from inside the university, resulting in injuries to at least 10 individuals, said media reports.

Meanwhile, heightened police presence was noted at Mirpur roundabout number 10, with armored vehicles stationed there. The area from Mirpur‍‍`s Sheorapara to No. 10 Roundabout has experienced closures of markets and reduced pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

Today, protesting students have declared a complete shutdown to demand justice for recent violent incidents involving police, BGB, RAB, and SWAT against peaceful student movements. Their demands include ensuring a safe campus environment and reforming the quota system. Exemptions to this shutdown include hospitals, media, and emergency services.

Even on Wednesday, amid national holiday observances, student protests, road blockades, funeral processions, and occasional clashes were reported across various parts of the country, including Dhaka.

Throughout the night, reports indicated fires at least at 20 locations along the road from Shanir Akhara Kajla to Signboard, with debris such as tree trunks and bricks obstructing traffic flow.

During the ongoing quota movement, at least 7 fatalities have been reported in the past two days, including students and Chhatra League activists.