The demand for quota reform turned violent in Tangail as police fired tear shells and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, leading to clashes that left around 50 people injured.
Police clashed with students in the old bus stand, Nirala intersection, and Registry Para areas of the city around 11am on Thursday.
Students retaliated by throwing bricks at the police, who then responded with tear shells and rubber bullets, turning the entire area into a battlefield. Businesses in the vicinity were forced to close.
During the clashes, students vandalized vehicles and a post office.
Two students sustained leg injuries from police firing.
According to police, the clash began when hundreds of students marched in front of the Tangail Press Club and patrolled various roads demanding quota reforms. The police claimed they fired tear shells and rubber bullets in self-defence, causing panic among bystanders who fled.
District Police Superintendent Golam Sabur said that no firing or tear shells were directed at the protesting students, asserting that legal measures were taken to control outsiders among the students.
However, it remains unclear how many were injured in the conflict or if tear shells and rubber bullets were indeed used.