Over two 250 quota protesters were injured on Monday as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) attacked them at Dhaka University (DU), Eden Mohila College, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Chittagong University (CU) and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
Quota protesters announced Monday that countrywide protest demonstrations will be held today in protest against BCLs attacks on students in quota reform movement.
During clashes on DU campus, at least six crude bombs were exploded near Shahidullah Hall between 5:35pm and 5:45pm.
At this time, a man wearing helmet was seen pointing his gun towards the quota protesters in the Shahidullah Hall area.
The clashes broke out following altercations between BCL men and quota protesters at DU Bijoy Ekattor Hall at around 3:00pm.
BCL leaders allegedly resisted students from going out to attend a student rally at Raju Bhashkarja at 12:30pm, in protest against Prime Ministers remarks about them they consider derogatory.
Upon learning the information, other quota protesters who were already at the Raju Bhshkarja rushed to the hall.
As they reached Bijoy Ekattor Hall, BCL men from inside the dormitory started throwing brick chips at the protestors. The protestors retaliated.
Later, the two groups chased each other.
Leaders of BCL central unit, DU unit and its hall units, Dhaka North and South Metropolitan units were seen directing their activists.
Earlier, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said BCL men were prepared to give appropriate reply to the audacious behaviour of the anti-quota activists.
Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discriminatory Student Movement said that over 200 DU students were injured in attacks by BCL leaders and activists.
Asif said that Central and DU unit of BCL leaders along with hired outsiders attacked them.
The injured were taken to Dhaka Medical Hospital College Hospital (DMCH).
Witnesses said that BCL men beat up the injured the students and their attendants even in the hospital.
The Daily Stars Senior Photographer Prabir Das and Daily Prothom Alos Staff Photographer Dipu Malakar were injured in an attack by BCL men at DUs VC Chattar in the afternoon.
They were hit by sticks while they were covering the students protest against quotas in government jobs.
Later, at around 6:00pm, a group of police led by Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker entered the campus and took control of it.
At least 15 students of Eden Mohila College were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by BCL activists.
Samia Afroz, an Eden College Management Department student said, Chhatra League attacked the protesters near the pond of the college when students were gathering there to participate in the quota reform movement.
She said BCL Eden unit President Tamanna Riva, General Secretary Razia Sultana along with 30 to 40 BCL activists took part in the attack which left Shahinur Shumi, Sumaiya Shaina, Sanjida Haq, Tamanna, Skya Islam and others injured.
Our JU Correspondent reported that at least 30 students of the university suffered injuries as BCL activists of the JU unit beat them up during quota reform protest in the evening near the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall area.
Our Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Correspondent reported that at least three students of the university were injured in BCL attack on the campus while the protesters were holding a rally.
At least 6 students of Chittagong University were attacked by BCL leaders and activists on the campus, said CU quota protesters.
However, BCL DU unit President Mazharul Kabir Shoyon told reporters that at least four of their leaders were also injured.
Shoyon said BCL activists chased the quota protesters from DU campus after getting attacked first.
He said the quota movement was more than a student movement as 80 per cent of the quota protesters were political activists.
BCL General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan was also seen attacking the quota protesters.
BCL activists of Dhaka North and South Metropolis units were seen arriving in trucks and pickups on DU campus.
Quota protesters gathered at the base of Raju Bhashkarja at midday to lodge their protest against the Prime Ministers remarks at her press conference on Sunday in which she asked if grandchildren of freedom fighters don get quotas in government jobs, will the grandchildren of Rajakars get quotas in government jobs?
Earlier, BCL President Saddam Hossain told media at around 1:00pm that it was clear that the protesters were crossing their limits, and BCL knew how to "politically" deal with those who cross their limit.
Provost of Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall of Jahangirnagar University Prof Nazmul Hassan Talukder on Monday morning announced his resignation following attacks on quota protestors allegedly by BCL activists.
Since July 1, job aspirants and students of public universities and colleges have been holding demonstrations to get quotas in government jobs reformed
They blocked highways and railways and key intersections in the capital.
The protests began after the High Court Division in a verdict on June 5 restored quotas in government jobs.
The government appealed against the HC verdict and the Appellate Division in its verdict on July 10, asked to maintain status quo on the HC order for one month.
