April 20, 2022
4 mins read

Traders-students clash leaves one dead in Bangladesh

Among the injured were eight reporters who were attacked during the clashes. Four of them are receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital….reports Sumi Khan

Day-long clashes between shopkeepers in Dhaka’s New Market area, students of the adjacent Dhaka College and the local police left one person dead and over 50 injured.

Nahid Hasan, 23, who worked as a deliveryman for a courier service in the Elephant Road area, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on Tuesday.

Among the injured were eight reporters who were attacked during the clashes. Four of them are receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Highlighting the government’s concern, Education Minister Dipu Moni said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the state to treat the injured, especially the students. All necessary steps have been taken to ensure the advanced treatment of Mosharraf Hossain, a critically injured student of Dhaka College, at a specialised hospital, she added.

The Prime Minister also questioned the police’s firing on students, she added.

Dhaka Metropolitan police authority on Tuesday said: “Legal action will be taken if the traders file any complaints.”

According to witnesses, several cocktail explosions and attacks on the public continued daylong on Tuesday. The students also burnt wood on the roads during the clashes. A number of police personnel had rushed to the spot in a riot van, around three hours after the violence broke out.

As per officials, the clash began around Monday midnight. They rushed to the spot and lobbed tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. However, some of the officials suffered injuries in the process, as the students began hurling brickbats at them.

Traffic movement on Mirpur Road remained suspended, due the clashes, for over two hours till 2.15 p.m. on Tuesday.

Speaking to IANS, the police said that a dispute between two eateries in the New Market area led to the clashes A group of Dhaka College students then got involved in the argument which finally resulted in a deadly clash.

The workers and the students clashed for nearly two and a half hours during the wee hours of Tuesday before the police dispersed them using tear gas and rubber bullets. However, the fight resumed in the morning, further crippling Dhaka’s slow Ramadan traffic.

Different journalist organisations, including the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) condemned the attack on journalists and demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers. They also demanded compensation and necessary treatment of the victims.

Nazrul Islam Mithu, President of DRU, and Nurul Islam Hasib, General Secretary, DRU opined that attacking journalists is not acceptable, especially while they are on duty.

BFUJ President Omar Faruk, Secretary General Dip Azad, and DUJ president Sohel Haider Chowdhury said those who attack journalists on duty are “nothing short of terrorists”.

Assistant Commissioner Sharif Mohammad Faruquzzaman said that the violence eased in the afternoon and stopped for a while in the evening, during Iftar. However, the traders started demonstrating again around 7.45 p.m. while the students had gathered outside the Dhaka College campus. The police had to resort to a baton charge to disperse the storekeepers.

According to the injured journalists, both parties involved in the clashes assaulted them whenever they tried to take photographs or video footage of the violence.

A photojournalist, who was attacked by the students, said: “They pushed me to the ground and beat me up with sticks and iron rods while I was taking photos. When I told them I was a college alumnus, they let me go. But then I saw, they began thrashing another journalist, Hasan Reza. I, somehow, managed to save him and get ourselves out of there.”

Shaheen Ahmed, president of the New Market Shop Owners’ Association, said that the workers of the two eateries, Capital Hostel and Welcome, fought over the ownership of a place to sell Iftar items on Monday evening.

“They scuffled at one stage. An employee of Welcome then called some Dhaka College students he was acquainted with. Now things have gone this far,” Shaheen told IANS.

A group of 10-12 students were assaulted by the workers of Capital Hostel when they came to support workers of Welcome which finally led to the daylong violent clash, he added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Opposition Jatiya Party, GM Quader, has condemned the attack on media personnel. Calling upon the law enforcers, he demanded strict action against those who are violating the sanctity of Ramadan and committing acts of terrorism and anarchy.

ALSO READ: Questions raised over case against Science teacher in Bangladesh

Previous Story

Beat the heat  with summer drinks

Next Story

The Food Lab completes $4.5 mn pre-seed fund raising round

Latest from -Top News

‘Kill and Dump’ Haunts Balochistan Again

The latest killings have reignited accusations of extrajudicial executions and the use of counterterrorism laws to cover up custodial deaths in Balochistan….reports Asian Lite News Concerns have deepened across Balochistan following the

Trump Slams Afghan Exit as ‘Most Embarrassing’

 Over seven months into his second presidential term, Trump has not yet announced any official or detailed policy on Afghanistan….reports Asian Lite News  US President Donald Trump has once again strongly criticised

Brazil Slams Trump Tariff

Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian goods imported into the United States starting August 1….reports Asian Lite News Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin has said that it was “unjust”

‘ASEAN Expands, But Keeps Its Soul’

Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan urged ASEAN to uphold its unity and strategic resolve amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and mounting external pressures…reports Asian Lite News Consensus and inclusivity will remain the cornerstones

Trump to Africa: No More Aid, Let’s Trade

Trump said the United States was working to “forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations….reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump met with leaders of
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Protests erupt against China on National Day

The BBSS Welfare Association organised a bicycle rally in solidarity

Bangladesh declares ‘Joy Bangla’ as national slogan

A notification in this regard would be issued to make