Preparations are underway for a protest rally organized by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at Rajbari Ground in Gazipur on Saturday, according to reports from local residents.
The stage has already been set up on the western side of the ground, and student representatives from the movement have begun delivering speeches.
A procession has been arriving at the ground from various areas since 10am.
The rally is scheduled for noon, and the atmosphere in Gazipur has been tense since morning, as reported by local residents who were interviewed at 10am on Saturday.
However, some of them spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity.
Rickshaw driver Jasim Uddin near Joydebpur Rail Gate, said: "Ever since the attack on former minister advocate AKM Mozammel Haque's house last night, I was unsure whether to go out with my rickshaw this morning. But out of necessity, I left the house. Even though there are no passengers, we are all in fear, not knowing what will happen next."
A raw materials vendor on Rajbari Road said: "I usually open my shop in the morning, but on Saturday, I delayed it. I waited to gauge the situation in the city before opening my shop. There are no customers, and I'm spending the day in fear. If I don't make any sales, my family will go without food."
Pedestrian Zaynal expressed: "I’m walking with a lot of tension, not knowing what might happen. It’s hard to tell when or from which direction chaos might break out."
At the Rajbari Ground, student leaders have already started speaking into handheld microphones.
They are accusing the Awami League thugs of attacking ordinary students, leaving them severely injured.
They claim that they went to the scene after hearing about the attack on the former minister's house, only to be met with violent opposition from the attackers.
The incident occurred on Friday night in Gazipur's Dhirashram area when Anti-Discrimination Student Movement leaders arrived at the ancestral home of former advocate AKM Mozammel Haque, only to be allegedly attacked by members of the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.
As a result, 15 people were injured, five of whom were critically wounded and were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Faruk, the officer-in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College (DMCH), said that the five seriously injured are Shuvo Shahriya, 16, the son of Fazlur from Kamarkhuri, Gazipur; Yakub, 24, the son of Meher Ali from Sharipur, Gazipur; Sourav, 22, the son of Ganesh Ghosh from Madhumita Road, Tongi East; Kashem, 17, the son of the late Haji Jamal from Alhera Petrol Pump, Gazipur; and Hasan, 22, the son of Ibrahim Mia from Jorpukur, Joydebpur.
They are receiving medical care at the hospital.
Nabil, the coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Gazipur, said that if the assault on students is not properly investigated, they will hold a March to Gazipur protest.
Members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Gazipur said that most of the injured were admitted to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital in Gazipur.
On Friday night, the movement's coordinator Hasnat Abdullah and central coordinator Sarjis Alam visited the hospital to check on the injured.
In response to the attack on students, a large protest rally has been announced for 12:30pm on Saturday, at Rajbari Ground in Gazipur.
Gazipur Sadar police station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Arifur Rahman said that law enforcement is present at the scene to maintain order and ensure that no untoward incidents occur.