Sayeed Muhammad: With rumours in the air that four schoolgirls were raped with many saying that two students were killed, Jigatola in the capital saw intense clashes between several groups of attackers and the students demanding road safety.
The tense situation started intensifying after 1pm yesterday with reports of the so called rapes and murders starting making the rounds on the social media, according to several media outlets.
A group of men wearing motorcycle helmets—some of them armed—arrived later on the scene and clashed with the students, reported bdnews24.com. Afterwards, two motorbikes were seen going up in flames after an arson attack.
Earlier, a confrontation took place between the students, who are holding citywide protests, and Awami League and BCL leaders and activists in front of the party president’s offices at Dhanmondi 3/A around 2pm.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, at least 26 people, including nine students, have been injured the series of clashes.
The students were admitted to Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital and Ibn Sina Hospital. Many of the injured Awami League and BCL leaders and activists were also taken to the Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital.
Border Guard Bangladesh troops were deployed on the spot following the clash.
As of 6:30pm, agitaging students torch motorcycle of a Chhatra League member near Popular Diagnostic Centre in Dhanmondi 2.
Earlier in the afternoon, Chhatra League men reportedly swooped on the students while they were controlling traffic near Jigatola bus stand in Dhanmondi. They also snatched and smashed mobile phones of the students who were trying to take pictures and videos of the attack.
Passers-by and journalists, who tried to take photos of the incident were also beaten while their cameras and mobile phone were snatched away and smashed by the alleged BCL men, reported The Daily Star.
Our time is a news portal