Parts of Dhaka wore an almost deserted look today with city streets remaining empty, as fear gripped people following students' enforcement of a "complete shutdown" across the country.

Protesting students last night announced a "complete shutdown" today, in protest of the law enforcers' action against them, alongside the one-point demand of quota reform and the additional demand of "crime-free" campuses.

While visiting different areas of Dhaka, it was seen that the number of public vehicles on the roads are thin.

Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in the capital. Photo: Md Abbas

The usually scenario of traffic jam on the city roads was not seen today. The number of people using different public vehicles was low compared to other days as well.

Few private vehicles were seen on the roads.

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Even on the metro rail, the presence of commuters was low given it is a working day today.

Traffic police were not seen at different intersections of Dhaka either, as of 9:45am.

However, during the enforcement of the "complete shutdown", clashes have broken out between protesters and police in different areas of the city, including Shanir Akhra, Jatrabari, Mirpur-10, Science Lab, and Badda.

Amid violent clashes on campus between quota protesters on one side and police, Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League on the other, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on July 16 declared that all public and private universities across the country will remain closed until further notice.

At the same time, all affiliated medical, textile, engineering and other colleges will also remain closed, it announced.

The commission also directed the university authorities to vacate the residential halls considering the safety of the students.

On the same day, all secondary, higher secondary, and polytechnic institutions and colleges under the National University were declared closed until further notice.

At least six people were killed and dozens were injured on July 16 as clashes took place during nationwide protests demanding the abolition of quota in government jobs.

Student's protest programme gained momentum as thousands of students from private universities and colleges have also joined the movement, which had previously been dominated by public university students.

The widespread demonstrations began this morning following violent attacks on quota protesters at public universities across the country on July 15.

Several hundred students were injured in attacks on quota protesters, allegedly carried out by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists on university campuses.