Students at Dhaka University (DU), protesting for the abolition of quotas in government jobs, have refused to return to their halls despite a request from the hall`s provost, Dr. Mohammad Javed Hossain, at 7:50 p.m. on Monday.
Following the rejection of the provost`s request, the students immediately began chanting slogans like `Dalal Dalal` and `Bhua Bhua`, while also demanding the expulsion of outsiders from the campus. Dalal reffers to `Broker` and Bhua reffers to `hoax`.
Meanwhile, DU proctor, Md Maksudur Rahman, addressed the students after their refusal to return, "We do not have complete control over the situation. If possible, we would have removed the outsiders earlier. Now, we will coordinate with the hall provosts and house tutors to facilitate students` return to the halls and remove outsiders."
The `helpless` proctor also said, "It`s becoming increasingly difficult to prevent outsiders from entering student halls."
Amidst these developments, hundreds of policemen positioned themselves with an armored personnel carrier (APC) just 30 yards away. Prior to this, police had escorted Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists from the hall gate to Doel Chattar area.
The day saw confrontations between protesting students and Chhatra League activists at DU starting around 3pm, leading to chasing and clashes across the campus. Later, clashes erupted again during the transfer of injured individuals to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, particularly in front of Shahidullah Hall.