At least six people were killed in Dhaka, Chittagong and Rangpur and several hundred sustained injuries on Tuesday as the police and Chhatra League members confronted the quota reform activists for the second day.
Three of them were identified as Abu Sayeed, 22, a student of the English Department at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), and Wasim Akram, a student of the Social Science Department from Chittagong College, while another is a pedestrian named Faruq.
The identities of the three other deceased people could not be confirmed until the filing of the report at midnight.
Abu Sayeed spread his hands on the street in Lalbagh area of Rangpur facing the police as they attempted to spray rubber bullets during the series of clashes around 2pm. At one point, he backtracked and was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital under police guard.
Hospital sources confirmed that Sayeed died before arriving at the hospital, with bullet marks observed on his body.
Following his death, the government deployed members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and additional police personnel in Rangpur and some other districts.
BGB members also took position in front of Dhaka College's main gate. Later, around 7pm, police took positions in front of Dhaka College. At that time, BGB members also stationed themselves there.
Riot cars of the police were also seen in front of Dhaka College on Mirpur Road.
Meanwhile, two buses of Trans Silva Paribahan were set on fire in front of the National Press Club at 8:25pm. Initially, no casualties were reported.
Eyewitnesses said that two buses were set on fire near the metro rail station after several cocktails exploded. At that time, no one was seen inside the buses. Shortly after the fire started, police reached the scene.
After the daylong clashes, the protesters said they would hold any programs on Wednesday in observance of the Holy Ashura. Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the platform, said the next program would be announced after discussing it with other coordinators.
Nahid also urged the Dhaka University students to remain vigilant in their dormitories and take charge of the halls, defying the Chhatra League.
Monday’s clash saw around 300 injured in attacks by the Chhatra League at Dhaka University alone and another 60 students and teachers at Jahangirnagar University, spreading a wave of shock for the nation.
At night, the students under the banner of "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement" declared that they would not accept such brutality and would face the Chhatra League with proper preparations the next day.
Based on the call of the coordinators, students of different public and private universities and colleges took to the streets in the morning, and clashed with the police when asked to free the roads. At some places of Dhaka, members of Chhatra League and Jubo League attacked the protesters.
The BNP, Transparency International Bangladesh, and Editors’ Council condemned the attacks, and called for restrain. They also demanded proper investigation into the incidents and punishment of the culprits.
Saad Hammadi, the Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, said: "Reports of deaths and violence against students demanding merit-based recruitment in Bangladesh's government jobs are deeply troubling and a repeat of lawless response to peaceful protests. The recruitment system in Bangladesh's government jobs is a policy-oriented issue and must be dealt with full transparency and accountability to meet public interest.”
He added that the government should consider the genuine concerns of the student protesters and protect them from harm and attacks from state and non-state groups, including the student wing of the ruling party. “An urgent resolution is required in the recruitment process to make the quality of jobs rewarding and accountable, one that is rooted in the principles of equality and equity.”
The protesters gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar at 4pm as part of their pre-scheduled program, responding to recent assaults by Chhatra League members. They marched towards the VC Chattar of Dhaka University (DU), maintaining their position at the Shaheed Minar area until 8pm.
On the contrary, Chhatra League leaders and activists took a position at the Raju Sculpture and TSC area starting at 2pm, visibly armed with sticks, iron rods, and helmets.
In Dhaka, two people died from injuries sustained during the protest rally called by the students at the Science Lab intersection. They died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Inspector Md Bachchu Mia, in charge of the DMCH hospital police outpost, confirmed the matter.
Meanwhile, reports say five teachers of Dhaka University, all members of the Proctorial Body, were injured in an alleged attack by the protesters around 4pm in front of the Medical Center of the university.
The injured include Professor Dr Mostafizur Rahman, Assistant Proctor Prof Abdul Muhith, Associate Professor Dr Farzana Ahmed Shanta, Associate Professor Dr Hasan Faruq, and Assistant Professor Imamul Haq Sarkar Titu.
Proctor Professor Maksudur Rahman said the protesters attacked them in front of the Medical Center. Eyewitnesses said members of the university's Proctorial Body went to the Shaheed Minar area to disperse the outsiders.
At that time, the protesters attacked them with sticks, several teachers were injured.