Quota reform protest: Five more die, death toll rises to 187

Five more died after sustaining injuries during the clashes between the quota reform protesters and the law enforcement agencies, alongside pro-government elements, in the capital city.

They succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Monday, 22 July.

Meanwhile, three people were killed in Narayanganj on Saturday, and their bodies were recovered on Monday. It was learnt that four more bodies were taken to the Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital on Friday. Besides, a policeman was reported to have died during the recent clashes.

With the latest deaths, the death toll for the last six days rose to 187. Among them, six deaths were recorded on Tuesday, while 41 on Thursday, 79 on Friday, 36 on Saturday, 20 on Sunday, and five were registered on Monday.

The deaths were confirmed from some hospitals, relatives, and individuals who took the bodies to the hospitals. However, the death toll does not comprise information from all hospitals in Dhaka as well as across the country.

The bodies, including teens, students, youths, and women, were mostly found with bullet wounds, while the remaining ones with other injuries. There are three policemen and three journalists among the deceased.

Hundreds of people are receiving treatment at hospitals for their injuries during the clashes. Many of them were hit by shotgun pellets in their eyes, while a significant number are feared to lose their vision forever.

The police and firefighters recovered three burnt bodies from the local branch of a bank on the second floor of a multistoried building at Shimrail of Shiddhirganj in Narayanganj.

Abu Bakar Siddique, officer-in-charge of Shiddhirgnj police station, told Prothom Alo that the building – Hazi Ibrahim Khalil Shopping Complex – was set on fire during the clashes on Saturday. The three were burnt to death in the fire.

According to the police, the deceased are – Selim, 29, son of Wahab Mandal from Kumarkhali in Kushtia; Abdus Slam, son of late Saber Biswas; and Sohel, 42, son of Tofajjal Hossain from the same area.

After recovery, the bodies were sent to the Narayanganj General Hospital for autopsy on Monday afternoon.

While visiting the injured policemen at Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital on Monday, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told the media that a total of three policemen died during the clashes.

Two of the deceased policemen were identified earlier. Asked about the remaining death, Abu Yusuf, additional superintendent of police at the police bureau of investigation (PBI), identified him as Masud Parvez Bhuiyan. He sustained injuries after leaving his residence in the Banasree area and died on Sunday during treatment.

Meanwhile, five others died on Monday while receiving treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. They are – Rasel, 20; Ajijul Miya; Shanto, 22; Raju, 36; and an unidentified man. Hospital sources said they were taken to the hospital with bullet wounds on Thursday and Friday.

Four bodies were taken to the Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital on Friday. Sajjad Hossain, ward master at the hospital’s emergency department, told Prothom Alo that relatives of two deceased beat up the on-duty Ansar members and took the bodies away without autopsy.

The authorities conducted autopsy for the two remaining bodies. One was identified as Ruhan, 20, from Baliya village at Chandpur sadar police station, while the other is still unidentified.

*The story was published in Prothom Alo's print version on 23 July.