Clashes Erupt Between Anti-Quota Activists and Chhatra League in New Market

On Tuesday, July 16, a confrontation occurred between anti-quota activists and local Chhatra League members in the New Market area of the capital. The clash took place around 11:45 AM, as confirmed by DMP's Badda Zone Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) Rajan Kumar Saha.

While the situation has since stabilized, protesting students continue to block the road, necessitating additional police deployment to maintain order.

Several hundred students from United International University (UIU) began their blockade at the New Market signal around 11:30 AM, disrupting traffic and causing a significant backlog of vehicles. The students chanted slogans while blocking the road, leading to a standstill in the area.

Tensions escalated when Chhatra League leaders and activists attempted to disperse the protesters, resulting in a clash between the two groups.

The protest was sparked by comments from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a press conference on her recent visit to China. In response to a question about the quota reform movement, she said, "Why is there so much anger about the liberation war? The grandchildren of freedom fighters will get nothing, so will the grandchildren of Razakar get everything?" This statement prompted students from various public universities, including Dhaka University (DU), to take to the streets.

On Monday, universities across the country, including DU, became hotbeds of agitation. Around noon, protesters gathered at Raju Bhaskar in DU, demanding the Prime Minister retract her statement. Their slogan, "Tumi Ke Ami Ke, Razakar-Rajakar," sparked widespread discussion and criticism. Both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader condemned the protesters' language.

In response, Chhatra League mobilized on campuses. At around 2 PM, they confronted the protesters in various halls, leading to clashes involving brickbats and weapons. The violence resulted in hundreds of injuries, with many treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Later, police intervened with armored vehicles at Doel Chattar in DU around 6:50 PM, dispersing the agitators by 10:15 PM. Allegations of police attacks on student movements at other universities, including Jahangirnagar University, surfaced as well, with reports of bullets and tear gas being used.

Protests continued on Tuesday morning, with anti-quota students taking to the streets in various parts of the country, including the capital.