Quota reform activists clashed with police in Comilla, leaving at least 35 people, including students, journalists, and police, injured on Thursday.
As part of the "complete shutdown" program across the country, the clash occurred at the Kotbari area of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway around 1pm.
Both sides engaged in the conflict. Students also blocked the highway in front of Hasanpur College in Daudkandi and at Companiganj and Debidwar in Muradnagar on the Comilla-Sylhet highway.
Protesting students from various educational institutions, including universities, marched forward, shouting slogans at the police around 1pm.
In response, the police fired several rounds of rubber bullets and tear gas.
Following the clash, students from every higher education institution in the district took positions in their respective areas.
Yasir Arafat, a protesting student, claimed that the police attacked without any provocation.
He said: "We will not leave the streets until the demands are met."
Sadar South Model police station Officer-in-charge (OC) Mohammad Alamgir Bhuiyan said that the police responded after receiving information about the blockade in the Kotbari area.
He said that the police showed maximum patience.
Comilla Additional Superintendent of Police Nazmul Hasan confirmed that at least 35 people, including police officers, were injured in the clashes. However, he mentioned that detailed information about the injured would be provided later.