Six protesters were reportedly killed in clashes with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur on Monday.
Over fifty protesters and bystanders have also been injured by gunfire. Additionally, three BGB vehicles were set on fire during the incident.
The deceased were identified as Sifatul Islam, 22, from Pakundia in Kishoreganj; Sharif Ahmed, 20, from Daragar Chala village under ward No 8 of Sreepur Municipality; Kawsar, 28, from Haluaghat in Mymensingh; Juwel Mridha, 30, from Nandail in Mymensingh; and two unidentified individuals.
Sources reported that, around 80 Bangladesh Border Guard members, who were assigned to Mymensingh division, were being transported to Dhaka on two buses. When the buses reached the Maona intersection, they were blocked by protesting students in front of Bangladesh Filling Station in Mulaid area.
Protesters accused the BGB personnel of being Indian police or BSF members, noting that they were speaking Hindi. At one point, the protesters seized weapons and ammunition from the BGB members, packing them into sacks. When the situation escalated, the BGB personnel opened fire on the protesters.
Several rounds of gunfire were exchanged throughout the afternoon, resulting in six deaths and over fifty injuries. Army teams arrived at the scene to rescue the besieged BGB members and attempted to disperse the protesters. Several helicopters were seen circling the area in the afternoon to assist in the rescue operations.
As of 8:30pm, the situation in the vicinity remains tense.
Obaidullah, the manager of Alhera Medical Center in Mauna intersection, confirmed that five bodies were brought to the hospital, with three identified and two still unidentified. Another body was taken to the house of a relative in Mauna.
"Twenty-two gunshot victims were given initial treatment and transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital," he added.
Dr. Abul Hossain, director of Alhera Hospital, reported treating fifty individuals since the afternoon, including twenty-two with gunshot wounds.
Attempts to reach officer-in-charge of Sreepur Police Station, Akbar Ali Khan, and Upazila Executive Officer Shovon Ranga for comments were unsuccessful.
SA
