A clash has broken out between students and police in the VC Chattar area of Dhaka University.
Students are seen hurling bricks and stones while police fire tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd. The clash started around 4:30pm on Wednesday.
The agitating students have taken position in front of Masterda Surya Sen Hall while a large number of police officers are positioned near the Vice-Chancellor's residence.
Earlier in the afternoon, students failed to hold an absentee funeral prayer at TSC due to police obstruction.
Later, they held the prayer in front of the VC Chattar area.
After the prayer, students started a procession with a coffin on campus.
In response, the police fired sound grenades and tear gas shells at the procession, dispersing the students. Shortly after, the students regrouped in front of Surya Sen Hall.
Earlier in the day, four protesters were detained as they tried to hold a sit-in protest at TSC.
Meanwhile, under the authority of Article 24(l) of the Dhaka University Order 1973, the university has been declared closed for an indefinite period in order to maintain the safety and academic environment of the students.
At the same time, students have been instructed to vacate the hall by 6pm on Wednesday.
This decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the Syndicate of Dhaka University on Wednesday.
Later, this decision was announced in a circular signed by Mahmud Alam, Director of Public Relations Department of Dhaka University.
As of 5pm, many students were seen leaving their dorm rooms with suitcases and bags through Nilkhet intersection.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Munim Ferdous, spokesperson of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), has said that the elite force will follow the instructions given by the Dhaka University administration regarding the ongoing quota reform movement of general students to vacate the hall.
“If they do not leave the campus, then we will act according to the instructions given by the Dhaka University administration," he said.
