Three people have been killed in a deadly clash between quota protesters and Chhatra League men in Chittagong.
Additionally, at least 15 people were injured in clashes across the country.
The deceased have been identified as Wasim Akram, 22, a student from the Social Science Department of Chittagong College, who resided in Pekua Upazila in Cox's Bazar, Faruq, 32, a carpenter from Noakhali, and Faisal Ahmad Shanto, 21 an honours first-year student at MES College in the city, who resided in Barisal.
Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune.
Quota reform: RU Chhatra League leaders room vandalized, 20 motorcycles torchedHe said: "Three individuals were brought to the hospital dead. Among them, Faisal and Akram are students, and Faruq was a pedestrian. Bullet wounds were found on the bodies of Faruq and Shanto. Thirty to forty injured individuals are currently under treatment, with two in critical condition. Three people are in the ICU."
Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Saiful Islam said: "The two groups clashed at various points. We learned about the deaths after they were rushed to the hospital."
The commissioner said that the deceased students’ bodies showed no visible injury marks.
"We did not use force. Our aim was to calm the two groups by positioning ourselves between them," he added. In addition to the protesters, several Chhatra League activists were also injured.
BGB deployed
Meanwhile, three BGB platoons were deployed in Chittagong to bring the situation under control.
Lieutenant Colonel Shahed Minhaj Siddique, commander of BGB 8 in the Chittagong region, said: "Three platoons of BGB have been deployed in Chittagong to manage the law-and-order situation amid the ongoing quota reform movement. BGB units are already patrolling various areas of the city."
How the clash unfolded
As part of their daily program, anti-quota activists gathered at Sholoshahar railway station at around 3:30pm on Tuesday.
However, prior to this, Chhatra League leaders and activists had already positioned themselves at Sholoshahar No 2 Gate and Muradpur areas.
Clashes erupted at Sholoshahar at around 3:30pm. and soon spread to the No 2 Gate area and south to Muradpur. The area from No 2 Gate to Muradpur turned into a battlefield with repeated chases and stone-pelting. Several cocktail explosions were also reported during the chaos.
Quota movement: No program announced Wednesday due to AshuraAt one point, the anti-quota students dispersed and took up positions in various areas of Muradpur, Sholoshahar, and No 2 Gate. Dispersed anti-quota students were seen hurling bricks and stones at Chhatra leaders and activists. Local weapons, including rods and sticks, were seen in their hands during the confrontation.
The students complained that when they gathered at Sholoshahar station to hold their program, Chhatra League activists attacked them without provocation. They also alleged that Chhatra League leaders and followers opened fire at them and set off crude bombs.
Nurul Azim Roni, the former general secretary of Metropolitan Chhatra League, who was present at the scene, said: "Shibir activists attacked Chhatra League leaders and activists under the guise of common students. Our peaceful stance was to protest public suffering caused by the anti-quota movement. They surrounded us from all sides. Our workers were beaten up indiscriminately. The nature of their attack makes it clear that Jamaat-Shibir has hijacked this movement from the common students."
BNP claims Akram was Chhatra Dal activist
Meanwhile, the city BNP has claimed that Akram, who was killed in a clash between Chhatra League and Juba League leaders in the Sholshahar-Muradpur area of Chittagong, was a Chhatra Dal activist.
City BNP former committee's office secretary Idris Ali said: "Wasim Akram, joint convener of Chittagong College Chhatra Dal, was shot dead by the Chhatra League. His body is at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. He was a third-year honors student in the Political Science Department of Chittagong College and lived in Bahaddarhat."
After receiving news of Wasim Akram's death, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists gathered at the hospital. Md Salahuddin Shahed, joint convener of Chittagong Metropolitan Chhatra Dal, said: "Wasim Akram went to Sholoshahar railway station today (Tuesday) as a soldier of the democratic movement of students across the country against quota discrimination. Wasim participated in the protest there. On his way from Sholoshahar to Muradpur, Chhatra League workers stabbed him to death."
