The people of Narayanganj will not forget those five days

A hellish rampage is going on in Narayanganj, the famous Dandi district of the east, centered around the quota reform movement. Although the situation was under control for the first few days, Narayanganj became turbulent from July 18. Along with the clashes between the police and the protestors, widespread vandalism, arson and looting continued. Unprecedented violence is going on in important buildings of the district. 

The non-violent movement which was originally formed to demand quota reform suddenly turned violent. Many people including protesting students, ordinary people and police-Ansar have been injured. The government imposed a curfew last Saturday (July 20) to ensure the safety of the countrymen's life and property and to control the anarchy in the emerging situation. Since then the situation has slowly started to normalize.

At present, like other districts of the country, Narayanganj also has a strict position of law and order forces. However, the scars of the devastation caused by the quota reform movement are still visible before the eyes of the common people. As the curfew was relaxed on Wednesday (July 24), people returned to normal activities. With a sigh of relief, the demand to lift the curfew is increasing.  

Meanwhile, after being down for a few days, the internet service has started to work slowly. For the regular readers of the online media, the quota reform movement in Narayanganj, the district closest to the capital Dhaka, is presented.

July 18, Thursday

Unidentified people broke the police car. Narayanganj started to heat up. Like the previous few days, the agitators gathered at the heart of the city at Chashadha and railway gate number two as per the pre-announcement. The situation turned heated when two police vehicles were vandalized at Chashadha around 1 pm. At that time, the police fired tearshells and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. 

On the other hand, the agitators pelted bricks at the police. The chase continued till the afternoon. However, Farhana Muna, one of the coordinators of the movement in Narayanganj district, told that day that we do not know who vandalized the police car. They are none of us, none of us even know them. We have been talking about peaceful movement since the beginning. As soon as some of us including myself went forward to inform the police officers present about those unidentified persons, the police attacked us. It is not possible to say how many of our people were injured that day. 

However, the miscreants started vandalism on a large scale from the evening of this day. District PBI office, regional passport office, police box at railway gate number two of the city, district and metropolitan Awami League offices were vandalized and set on fire. Along with these true news, many other rumors are spread by word of mouth. Virtually the entire district became a district of panic, fire, fear and rumours. 

July 19, Friday 

Since Friday morning, the situation was prevailing across the district. The agitators took a stand at several spots including Signboard, Chittagong Road, Jalkuri, Bhuigarh, Chashadha in the district. Some parts of the road divider were removed, some trees were thrown to block the road. Many had rods, sticks, bricks in their hands. As well as the passport office that was set on fire the previous night, the PBI office continued to be looted.

After the Jumma prayers, several police cars crossed Bhuigarh and moved slowly, miking towards the signboard. At that time, the protesters were asked to move to a safe place by the police, but they kept shouting 'fake fake' slogans at the police. The police also dispersed them by firing rubber bullets and teargas. Clashes continued till 4 pm. 

On the other hand, in the city's DIT area, there were clashes between the protesters and the police after noon. In these incidents, the number of injured including policemen and pedestrians is more than hundred.

That night the miscreants showed more violence than the previous night. Nasim Osman Memorial Park (Naam Park) located in Fatulla, Ali Ahmed Chunka Nagar Library located in the city, Narayanganj Club, Youth Development Office of Jalkuri, export oriented company SB Garment and several other institutions were vandalized and set on fire. 26 Shital Paribahan buses of Dhaka-Narayanganj route were attacked and set on fire at the depot in Jalkuri. Besides, vehicles including pickups, private cars were set on fire at different places. 

July 20, Saturday

On this day curfew was issued across the country to control the situation. The army was also deployed to support the civil administration. However, the miscreants could not be suppressed in Narayanganj. They started gathering at Chittagong road and signboard area in the afternoon besides creating road obstructions by burning tyres, throwing trees. 

At one point, the agitators clashed with the joint forces. Protesters set fire to a market in Shimrail 37 policemen were trapped in the building. Later RAB rescued 37 policemen by helicopter. On this day, at least four people were killed and around 200 people were injured in the clash with the joint forces.

July 21, Sunday

Narayanganj was still hot that day. Especially on Chittagong Road and the signboard, the entrance of Dhaka, the presence of protesters was visible from the morning. In the afternoon, joint forces started operations in these areas. At least one person was killed and more than 100 injured in the ongoing clashes. By evening the protesters retreated. At night, the army took control of most of the entire area.

July 22, Monday

The situation gradually began to normalize in the strong position of the army. People started to panic. During the relaxation of the curfew, many people started leaving their homes to make urgent purchases. 

Those killed

At least 15 people have been killed in Narayanganj in the clashes of the last few days. Among them are - Son of Wahab Mandal of Char Jagannathpur village of Kumarkhali police station in Kushtia. Salim Mandal (19), deceased from the same area. Son of Saber Biswas. A. Chalam (22) and son of Toflesur Rahman of Kavura village of Sylhet's Biyanibazar thana. Sohail Ahmed (21). 

They died in a fire set by miscreants at a market in Shimrail on Saturday afternoon, police said. Besides, the identity of those killed in the clash has been confirmed, they are - Siddhirganj fish trader Md. Milan (36), fruit trader Sajib (21), Kishore Akash (16), Mehedi (21), a student of Ghazaria Polytechnic Institute, Munshiganj, Shaheen (23), staff of Heerajhil Hotel, Siddhirganj, Alauddin (35) of Matlab, Chandpur, Sumaiya (22) of Painadi, Siddhirganj. , Hriday of the same area (25) Sajal (22), Shaheen (23), Minarul Islam (25), Riya (6). 

Proceedings of the case and arrest

District Police Superintendent Golam Mostafa Russell has expressed his commitment to catch the masterminds, instigators and masterminds of vandalism, arson and looting. Nine cases have already been filed in Narayanganj on charges of sabotage, vandalism, looting and arson in connection with the anti-quota movement. The cases were filed on Monday (July 22) night. Narayanganj district, metropolis, thana and ward BNP leaders and activists have been accused in these cases. 2,000 to 2,200 unknown accused have been made in the case. It is not the end here, it is also reported that there will be more cases. So far 309 people have been arrested in the entire district. Narayanganj District Superintendent of Police (SP) Golam Mostafa Russell gave this information in a press briefing on Wednesday (July 24).

Golam Mustafa Russell said combing operation is going on across the district to catch those involved in violence and sabotage. No ordinary student was involved in these acts of vandalism. Miscreants wreaked havoc. On July 18-19, they burnt various public and private buildings. I have been resisting them since the beginning. People were hired from outside to carry out the riots Those arrested have confessed their involvement in the sabotage. They have given information that the violence-sabotage was carried out under the leadership of Fatulla Thana Youth Dal leader Mamun and Jamaat leader Masud member. Their chief guide was district BNP president Ghiyasuddin. Besides, there were Narayanganj City Corporation (Nashik) Councilor Iqbal Hossain, District Youth Party Member Secretary Moshiur Rahman Roni and Metropolitan Youth Party Convener Monirul Alam Sajal.

Stating that the operation will continue, the Superintendent of Police also said that ordinary students were used by the miscreants. BNP and Jamaat leaders who carried out sabotage will be brought under the law and face punishment.