Universities closed until further notice
Protesters demanding reform of the quota system in government jobs are holding pre-announced programmes at Dhaka University and other university campuses across the country around the same time today. This morning, students of private universities also joined in to protest the Chhatra League's attack on protesting students yesterday. Till yesterday, the protests were mostly by students of public universities. Our correspondents are reporting the latest on the issue from various spots in the capital and around the country.
Universities to be closed for the sake of students: UGC
The University Grants Commission tonight said all public and private universities, its affiliated medical colleges and others institutions, will remain closed until further notice for the sake of students' safety.
An UGC order said authorities of universities should take steps urging all students to leave their dormitories for the safety of the students.
UGC acting chairman Prof Muhammed Alamgir said that the regulatory authorities took the steps in line with government's decision.
There are 55 public and 114 private universities in the country.
Begum Rokeya University VC residence vandalised, torched
The quota reform protesters set up fire at the residence of vice-chancellor Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) following the death of its student Abu Sayed after police fired rubber bullets this evening.
The angry students also ransacked the ground floor of the residence.
VC Prof Dr Abdur Rashid along with around 15 to 20 officials, teachers and staffers were confined inside the building when the agitating students attacked the residence this evening, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.
NU-affiliated colleges closed indefinitely
All colleges affiliated with the National University have been declared closed until further notice.
The information was given in a press release from the National University Public Relations Department tonight.
Protesters to announce next set of programmes tonight
Quota reform protesters tonight said they would announce the next set of programmes tonight.
Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the anti-quote student movement, said state-sponsored attacks were carried out across the country against the protesters involved in the movement.
“Our movement will continue till our demands are meet,” he said while addressing the gathering at the end of their programme in front of the residence of the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University around 8:45pm.
Train operations resume from Dhaka after 6 hours
Train operations from Dhaka to different destinations resumed more than six hours after the line got cleared.
Sylhet-bound Kalni Express left Kamalapur station at 8:10pm, resuming the operation, one of our correspondents reported from the station.
Thursday's HSC exams postponed
All HSC and equivalent examinations under all education boards scheduled for Thursday have been postponed. The new date for these exams will be announced later, according to a notification released by the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee.
The notification, signed by Prof Tapan Kumar Sarker, president of the committee, stated that examinations scheduled for July 21 will be held as per the routine.
Thousands of protesters gather at DU VC Chattar
Almost all quota protesters, armed with sticks and iron rods, are now demonstrating in front of the Dhaka University vice-chancellor's residence, amid a huge police presence around 8:30pm.
They were shouting slogans -- "Why my brothers were killed? We want answers from the administration."
They also beat a person suspecting him to be a Chhatra League activist.
In a seriously injured condition, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Secondary schools, colleges closed until further notice
Considering the safety of students of schools and colleges, all educational institutions under the education ministry, at the secondary and higher secondary levels, as well as polytechnic institutes, will remain closed until further notice.
MA Khair, public relations officer of Ministry of Education, confirmed this in a press release.
Stand by quota protesters: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today called upon the country's people and all political parties to stand beside the general students who are demonstrating across the country against the reinstatement of the quota system in government jobs.
Speaking at a discussion, he also described the Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) attacks on anti-quota protesters as the most heinous incident in the country's political history.
Govt won't do anything on quota issue bypassing apex court: law minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq today said the government will not bypass the Supreme Court and make a decision about the quota system in government jobs.
"When a matter reaches the court, the government waits for its decision. So, the government will wait for the court judgement on the quota issue before taking necessary steps," he said.
Clash at Science Lab: Another youth dies in Dhaka
One more youth, who was lying in a pool of blood near City College, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital this evening.
Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost, confirmed the development.
The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.
The police officer said students took the injured youth to nearby Popular Hospital first.
At least six killed in protests
At least six people were killed in three districts, including the capital, in clashes between Chhatra League, police, and quota reform protesters today.
Two were killed in Dhaka, three in Chattogram and one in Rangpur.
Md Shahjahan, 25, a papor vendor, died after being attacked near City College area during a clash this afternoon. Another person's body was recovered from Dhaka College area.
Faisal Ahmed Shanto, 24, a student of Omor Gani MES College, Md Faruk, 32, a staff member at a local furniture shop, and Wasim Akram, 30, a Chittagong College student, were killed in Chattogram.
In Rangpur, Abu Sayed, 25, a student of English Department of Rangpur's Begum Rokeya University was killed during a clash between police. He was one of the organisers of the quota reform movement.
Death toll now 3 in Ctg
One more person, who sustained critical injuries, was killed during clashes between the quota protestors and Chhatra League men in Chattogram, raising the total number of deaths to three.
The victim is Faisal Ahmed Shanto, 24, a student of Omor Gani MES College
CMCH Director Brigadier General Taslim Uddin said 30 of the injured were admitted at the hospital. Of them, 20 were in critical condition.
The other two victims are -- Md Faruk, 32, a staff member at a local furniture shop, and Wasim Akram, 30, a Chattogram College student, said Nushat Imu, a medical officer at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
Farmgate Metro Station: Clash between protesters, BCL reported; authorities deny
After a reported clash between protesting students and Chhatra League men took place inside the Farmgate metro station this afternoon, metro rail authorities claimed that no such incidents took place there, rather, law enforcers drove some "miscreants" out after they got inside the station.
The authorities also reported no damage at the station.
TIB condemns attack on students
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) strongly condemned and expressed outrage over the attacks on the students protesting for quota reform in government jobs, perpetrated by members of the ruling party's student wing and external attackers.
TIB demanded that the attackers be identified and held to exemplary account, TIB said in a press release today.
Students vandalise rooms of RU BCL president, GS
Students of Rajshahi University stormed various dorms, including SM Hall, Ziaur Rahman Hall, and Bangabandhu Hall, and searched for BCL men in the rooms this afternoon, said sources.
According to our correspondent on the spot, rooms of RU BCL President Mostafizur Rahman Galib and General Secretary Asadullah-Hil-Galib were vandalised.
During the raids, they found firearms, machetes, and other weapons.
Science Lab turns into battlefield
The Science Laboratory area has turned into a battlefield as sporadic clashes continue to erupt between quota protesters, mostly college students, and Chhatra League activists.
Witnesses said both groups engaged in intense confrontations, throwing brick chips at each other.
BGB deployed in Dhaka, five other districts
Border Guard Bangladesh was deployed in Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Bogura and Gazipur to maintain law and order.
Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB, said the BGB was deployed to maintain law and order situation amid the clashes centring the quota reform movement.
Man dies at DMCH after being found in pool of blood near Dhaka College
A young man died after being attacked near Dhaka College area this afternoon.
The identity of the deceased, who was around 25 years of age, could not be known immediately.
"With critical head injuries, a youth was brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead around 5:15pm," Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost said.
The death happened amid sporadic clashes in the area between Bangladesh Chhatra League and students protesting the quota system near Science Lab area.
2 including student killed in protester-BCL clash in Chattogram
Two people including a student of Chattogram College were killed during a clash between the quota protestors and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in Chattogram this afternoon.
The other deceased is a pedestrian.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Saiful Islam confirmed the development.
DU assistant proctor hurt in attack by two protesters
Dhaka University's Assistant Proctor Prof Abdul Muhith was injured when protesting students attacked the university's proctorial team, who had been asking people to leave the campus via loudspeaker.
The attack took place in front of the Central Shaheed Minar when the team arrived at the venue and asked outsiders to leave the campus around 4:40pm.
The protesters drove them away, shouting "Bhuaa, Bhuaa".
As the teachers retreated, two protesters attacked them from behind, leaving Prof Muhith, also a pharmacy faculty teacher, injured, reports our staff correspondent from the spot.
He fell on the road and sustained injuries to his leg.
The teacher was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
BCL starts rally at 4:07pm
Bangladesh Chhatra League started their rally on the Dhaka University campus at 4:07pm.
However, a proctorial team seized some sticks from the rally venue.
As per BCL's announcement, the pro-government student body was supposed to hold the rally near the TSC area at 1:30pm.
Protesters gathering at Central Shaheed Minar
Protesting students started gathering at the Central Shaheed Minar premises to stage their demonstration, as per their pre-scheduled announcement, protesting the attack on students and demanding quota reform.
The students, mostly armed with bamboo sticks and hockey sticks, are arriving at the Shaheed Minar as of filing this report at 3:40pm.
Last night, Nahid Islam, one of the key organisers of the quota reform movement, announced that they would hold a protest rally at all educational institutions across the country, protesting the attack on their fellow protesters.
RU students break out of dorms locked by BCL; start procession
Several thousand students of Rajshahi University (RU) brought out a protest procession inside the campus, breaking locks at their dormitories.
Earlier RU BCL men chased students inside several halls and locked the hall gates around 2:30pm. However, students managed to break the lock and bring out procession.
According to students, protesters took over the whole campus chanting slogans. Meanwhile, BCL men took shelter inside the university’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hall.
BCL yet to start rally that was scheduled for 1:30pm
Bangladesh Chhatra League has not started their rally on the Dhaka University campus although it was scheduled to start two hours ago.
As per BCL's announcement, the pro-government student body was supposed to hold a rally near the TSC area at 1:30pm.
But visiting the venue at 3:30pm, a correspondent of this newspaper found no major gathering there.
Student killed in Rangpur during clash between protesters and police
A student of Rangpur's Begum Rokeya University was killed during a clash between police and protesters seeking quota reform on the campus.
The deceased was identified as Abu Sayeed, 25, a student of English Department of the university and one of the organisers of the quota reform movement.
Law enforcers should not get involved in student demos, says home boss
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said that law enforcement agencies should not step in to take action during the student demonstration unless absolutely necessary.
“We have seen some stray incidents at Jahangirnagar and Dhaka University. Until it is needed, law enforcers should not engage there...” he said while talking to journalists at a press briefing at his office in the Secretariat.
Students block Farmgate intersection
Students of Tejgaon College and Government Science College blocked the Farmgate intersection, bringing vehicular movement to a halt.
Soon afterwards, Bangladesh Chhatra League men came to the spot and attacked the students, driving them away.
Train movement in Dhaka halted as students block Mohakhali level crossing
Protesting students today blocked the railway line in Dhaka’s Mohakhali level crossing protesting the recent attacks on students of various universities while they were demonstrating for quota reform.
Protesters were chanting slogans to materialise their one-point demand from 2:00pm.
10-12 injured as protesters, BCL clash at Science Lab
At least 10 people were injured in a chase and counter chase that took place between college students and Dhaka College BCL near the Science Lab intersection around 1:45pm.
Sources at Popular Medical College Hospital said 10-12 people were brought injured to the hospital.
Five crude bombs were also exploded at that time. Police were mere onlookers as they took no action, our staff correspondent reports from the spot.
When the protestors took up position in Science Lab area, around 100 BCL men wearing helments, armed with sticks and iron rods tried to chase the protestors. Then students also chased them and brick chunks also hurled targeting each other leaving three injured.
It was still ongoing till 2:10pm.
AL leaders, activists take position at Mirpur-10
Awami League leaders and their associates, armed with sticks and iron rods, took up positions at Mirpur-10 intersection, preventing protesters from gathering there.
They chanted slogans on loudspeakers, such as "Rajakars will be retaliated against".
They also restricted gatherings in the area, questioning students to prevent them from entering the spot and asking if they were planning to attend the protest.
Students block Science Lab intersection
Several hundred students from different colleges blocked the Mirpur road in the capital's Science Lab area this noon.
Witnesses said that students from City College, Ideal College and Hamdard College have blocked the road around 12:30pm.
Private university students block Natun Bazar following clash with BCL men
A brief clash broke out between students of three private universities and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Dhaka’s Bhatara area this noon.
Witnesses said there was a chase and counter-chase incident between students of three universities -- Dhaka International University, UIU and AIUB -- and BCL men as the students marched forward to Natun Bazar Road around 11:45am.
Both parties hurled bricks and stones at each other.
Rajon Kumar Saha, assistant commissioner of Badda zone, said there was no clash but both groups faced off.
"We removed BCL from the area and the students were demonstrating on the road," he said
Dania College students block Dhaka-Chattogram highway
Students of Dania College and nearby institutions blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Jatrabari this afternoon.
To press home their demand, the agitating students blocked the highway at 12:20pm.
Talking to The Daily Star, Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jatrabari Police Station, said " Quota reform protesters have blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway for an hour."
5 students injured in 'attack by BCL men’ in Jhenaidah
At least five students were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League in Jhenaidah this morning.
The incident took place at Wazir Ali School and College ground in the city around 11:30am
4 students injured as crude bomb explodes in Bogura
Four students of Bogura Government Azizul Haque College were injured after a crude bomb exploded at the main gate area around 11:00am.
The injured students claimed that the bomb was hurled by BCL men.
IIUC students block Ctg-Dhaka highway, railway
Students of International Islamic University Chittagong blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway's Kumira area this morning protesting the recent attacks on students of various universities while they were demonstrating for quota reform.
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