Today, Friday, there have been instances of altercations and chase-counter chases between the demonstrators and the police in a number of locations, including the capital’s Badda, Mohammadpur, and Uttara.
With the exception of the “complete shutdown” announced by the quota protestors on Thursday, the entire nation came to a standstill. Alongside the capital, 47 districts nationwide have recorded full days of protests, blockades, pursuing and counterchasing, police attacks, gunfire, and altercations.
At least 1,500 people have been injured in these accidents, and 27 people have been confirmed dead. Asif Mahmud, a coordinator for the anti-discrimination student movement, announced today, Friday, that the “complete shutdown” program will go on nationwide.
Since early in the morning, demonstrators have been taking to the streets in various parts of the capital. In the meantime, a sizable contingent of law enforcement personnel, including police, RAB, and BGB, have established themselves at various locations throughout the city. In addition, a large number of ruling party officials and activists with sticks and other non-lethal weapons took to the streets in various parts of the capital.
This morning, the demonstrators assembled on the street that runs from BRAC University in the Merul Badda district to Rampura Bridge. However, a sizable contingent of BGB agents and police positioned themselves at several locations around Rampura Bridge and in the adjacent districts. Even before 10:00 am, there was a fight on this route between the police and the protestors.
Since early in the morning, the demonstrators have been positioned along the route, armed with sticks and brickbats. To disperse them, the cops fired pellets. In response, the demonstrators threw brickbats as well.
Broken pieces of the road barrier and logs laid out on the pavement have blocked the traffic. At the time, an injured man was spotted being transported to the hospital.
All vehicle traffic is halted in the vicinity. Ambulances transporting patients, however, are permitted to travel. On the Rampura Bridge, there is a noticeable police presence. Additionally, BGB personnel have been spotted nearby.
In addition, there have been instances of police and protestor pursuit and counter-chase on the route from the capital’s Gudaraghat neighborhood to Gulshan 1. That was the state of affairs there around noon.
In the meanwhile, at around 11:15 am, as the demonstrators gathered in the area of the Uttara-East police station in the capital, Uttara, the police opened fire with sound grenades, tear gas shells, and rubber bullets. At roughly 12:00 pm, the demonstrators moved to the roadway in front of the Uttara Rajlokkhi Centre and the BNS Tower.
Additionally, since morning, there have been reports of police and protestor chases and counterchases in the Mohammadpur Beribadh region of the capital. Around eight in the morning, the demonstrators began to swarm the area.
During that time, the police fired tear gas shells and multiple rounds of rubber bullets. The altercation was said to have injured a number of persons. Around 12:15 p.m., the police were also observed conducting drives to break up the demonstrators.
Aside from that, police and demonstrators have engaged in chase, pursue-counter, and altercations in a number of the capital’s neighborhoods, including Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra, and Malibagh. Most places have been in a tight mood.
