Ongoing protests demanding reform in the government job quota system led to violent clashes at Dhaka University on Tuesday and continued into Wednesday, with reports of dorm rooms occupied by DU Chhatra League President Mazharul Kabir Shoyon and General Secretary Tanvir Hasan Saikat being vandalized.
Protesters reportedly stormed various dorms from early morning, targeting rooms of Chhatra League leaders. General students, as well as some Chhatra League members, were seen leaving the halls in fear.
On Tuesday, six people were killed in clashes related to the quota reform movement across the country. In response, students began protesting in DU’s dorms from dawn the next day, chanting slogans demanding answers from the administration for the deaths.
Witnesses reported that rooms 343 and 345 of Surja Sen Hall, occupied by DU Chhata League President Shoyon and his followers, were vandalized.
The protesters threw out belongings from these rooms.
Shoyon and his followers were not present at the time, but several Chhatra League members at the dorm’s entrance were chased away by the protesters.
Reports also indicate that the room of DU Chhatra League General Secretary Saikat at Kabi Jasimuddin Hall was vandalized.
Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination movement, posted on Facebook: “We are witnessing students of Dhaka University spontaneously liberating their halls from terror. Keep up the good work and stay united. If faced with any resistance, we will confront it together. From now on, general students will be in charge of the dorms.”
Meanwhile, several Chhatra League leaders were in Sir AF Rahman Hall, whose administration has closed its gates to prevent further incidents.
Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel were stationed at various points across the university, including Nilkhet, Shahbagh and Mall Chattar to maintain law and order.