Under the banner of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, thousands of protesters broke through the police barricades in the capital’s Shahbagh intersection and took position in the area as part of their Bangla Blockade program, demanding quota reforms for the fourth day.
Despite being heavily equipped and present in significant numbers, the police were pushed back towards Mintu Road.
Chanting slogans of “Go Back! Go Back!” the protesters forced police to retreat. The police, who had arrived well-prepared with vehicles and riot gear, found themselves outnumbered.
After protestors had pushed police back from Shahbagh, the coordinators of the movement urged the protestors to gather back in Shahbagh. Now the police held their position in Minto Road, and the protestors gathered for a huge rally at the Shahbagh intersection.
As a result, traffic is completely halted on the roads from Shahbagh to Elephant Road, Bangla Motor, Matsya Bhaban, and TSC.
Earlier, students of Dhaka University (DU) started gathering in front of the central library amid the rain around 3pm.
On the other hand, the university unit Chhatra League announced a procession on the campus at 2pm, but it got delayed due to the weather as well.
Since morning, members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) were deployed at various points in the capital to prevent Bangla Blockade.
Police had prepared barricades at Victory Square, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, Shahbagh, Gulistan, Science Lab, Nilkhet, and Agargaon roads.
However, in the afternoon, protesters broke down the barricade and marched towards the Hotel Intercontinental intersection to press home their demands.