Violent clashes erupted again in Dhaka’s Shanir Akhra and Jatrabari areas today between quota protesters, law enforcers, and members of the ruling party amid a dawn-to-dusk nationwide shutdown called by protesters.
The unrest began when protesters attempted to march from Shanir Akhra towards Jatrabari. In response, law enforcement officers fired tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.
Eyewitnesses reported intense skirmishes in Shanir Akhra, Kazla, and Jatrabari, with protesters engaging in fierce confrontations with police. The violence peaked around 11:15 am at the Mayor Hanif Flyover toll plaza in Jatrabari, where protesters hurled brickbats at the police, who retaliated with tear gas and sound grenades. The clashes soon spread along the road from Kazla to Jatrabari.
Adding to the chaos, members of the Awami League and Jubo League allegedly joined forces with the police to suppress the demonstrators.
The turmoil brought traffic to a standstill on the flyover, leaving hundreds of vehicles stuck and forcing people to continue their journeys on foot.
Last night, a clash between protesters and police resulted in six people, including a child, sustaining bullet injuries.