At least 16 people were injured in sporadic clashes between students and police during a rally staged under the banner of the Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement in Khulna on Friday afternoon.
Among them, six people including pedestrians received bullet wounds, claimed the protesting students.
Two injured people were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
Eight other injured received treatment at the medical centre of Khulna University.
The rally began at 2pm from Khulna New Market despite police resistance and heavy rain.
The violence began around 3:15pm when students marched towards Gallamari.
Police fired tear gas shells from the direction of Zero Point.
A series of chases and stone-throwing between the police and students were reported.
The second round of clashes occurred around 4pm, with students stationed at Zero Point and police at both sides of the Rupsha Bridge Bypass.
According to the students, police fired multiple tear gas shells and rubber bullets during the conflict.
Harintana Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sanjib Kumar Ghosh said: "The situation is under police control. The situation has normalized after the clashes."
The protesting students said that when the police attacked in the first two phases, the students came down to the streets. They develop strong resistance. This forced the police to retreat.
At that time, the police were forced to release the two students who were detained.
At least 10 students were injured in the clashes, they said.
By 5:30pm, a third round of clashes erupted as students marched towards Shibbari intersection.
Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades, turning the entire Gallamari area into a battlefield.
The confrontation was ongoing as of 6:15pm, when this report was filed.
