More than 50 people, including police and journalists, were injured when students from Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute clashed with law enforcers on Monday morning.
The incident takes place amidst countrywide demonstrations held by polytechnic students demanding “fair evaluation.”
The students had abandoned classes and staged a demonstration, blocking the road near Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute around 10:30am, witnesses said.
They were demanding the promotion of their job positions to the deputy assistant engineer level from the present supervisor level.
They assembled on the institution premises and began throwing stones when police intervened.
Law enforcers replied with rubber bullets, teargas shells and sound grenades before Rab arrived with armoured vehicles and water canons.
The clash continued for over two hours.
Boali Model Police Station Officer-in-charge Ziaur Rahman Zia said at least 30 policemen had been injured during the clashes.
“We were cautious from the beginning. We took action when they [students] became violent,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
Later, about 30 students were arrested from scene.
BUSINESSMEN IN VANDALISM
Businessmen from the nearby stadium market smashed vehicles and protested during the chaos.
They complained that they were forced to keep their shops closed through most of the day because of the clashes.
“We had to keep our businesses closed because of recent strikes and other violences. How will we survive if we do not earn an income?” one of the businessmen said.
