The students and job seekers, who have been waging a movement seeking reform in the quota system in government jobs, announced a “complete shutdown” across the country today, Thursday.
They asked to close everything except the hospitals and other emergency services.
The demonstrating students and job seekers are observing the programme “protesting the condemnable attack on the peaceful movement of students by police-BGB-RAB and SWAT and killings, trial of killers, ensuring violence-free campus and rational reform in the quota system.”
Vehicles of the media and those carrying newspapers can also ply on the roads, the students said.
Asif Mahmud, one of the coordinators of the “Anti-Discriminatory Student Movement”, announced the programme through a post on his personal Facebook account around 8:00 pm on Wednesday.
In the post, he wrote, “I announce a complete shutdown across the country for tomorrow, 18 July, to protest against the police, BGB, RAB, and SWAT attacks on the peaceful student movements, and to press home the one-point demand for quota reform.”
Asif Mahmud urged the students of all the schools, colleges, universities and madrasahs to make the programme a success.
He also urged the guardians to stand by the movement, saying, “We are your children. Please stand by us, protect us. This fight is not only for the students but for the masses of the country, regardless of party affiliation.”
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Sarjis Alam, another coordinator of the movement said they meant “all-out blockade” by “complete shutdown”.
Situation at Dhaka University was tense the whole day on Wednesday. The law enforcement agency members took position at every intersection on the campus from the morning. Later, a large number of police RAB and BGB started gathering at the campus with their armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the afternoon.
Immediately after the students started their preannounced coffin procession, the law enforcement agencies attacked them from both sides, leaving at least 20 students, including female students, injured. Besides, 10 journalists also sustained injuries as the law enforcers used sound grenades, tear gas shells and other rubber bullets.
Apart from this, at least 35 people, who were injured in clashes in different areas of the city, took treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital as of 11:00 pm.
Though the day was a holiday due to holy Ashura, clashes broke out in at least 10 districts over the movement. Besides, the protesting students blocked roads and highways at 10 spots and rail tracks at two spots during the demonstration.