Safiqul Islam (Jami)
Rejecting the statement of the traders of Dhaka New Market about the clash, the students of Dhaka College took to the streets again. They are protesting on multiple demands. Students took to the streets around 5pm on Wednesday (April 20). A few cocktail explosions were heard at the time. As a result, traffic on Mirpur Road was stopped on the eve of Iftar. It was seen on the spot that students were chanting slogans on the road. A large number of police personnel have taken position to avoid any untoward incident. Traffic is light at this time. The traders came down the road but the police removed them.
The students told The Bangladesh Today that without consulting them, the businessmen held a press conference and blamed them for the clash.
The statement given by the businessmen blaming the students of Dhaka College should be withdrawn. All shops in New Market will have to be closed until the issue is resolved.
Earlier in the day, Dewan Aminul Islam Shaheen, of the association, told a press conference at the office of the New Market Shop Owners’ Association that a dispute broke out between two employees of two fast food outlets at around 11pm on Monday night. Then a group of students entered the market through gate number four and started vandalism. Then we ask the law enforcement for help, they help us immediately. We know that the students of Dhaka College are involved in this incident. On Tuesday, when our administration asked us to close the business, we closed it. Even then, a group of unruly youths continued their chase.
Earlier, clashes broke out between students and businessmen of Dhaka College in the New Market area of the capital at around 12pm on Monday. The clashes continued throughout the day on Tuesday. Hundreds of students and about 50 business people were injured in the clashes. Several people, including two students, were seriously injured.
Courier service worker Nahid Hossain, who was seriously injured in the clash, died at Dhaka Medical College on Tuesday night. A student of Dhaka College has been admitted to Square Hospital in the capital in critical condition.
At least 9 journalists from different media outlets were injured in the attack on traders and shop workers while covering the clash. The role of the police in the clash of students and businessmen has been questioned.
Though the clash started around 10:30 am, police arrived at the spot around 12:00 pm. As a result, the conflict spread unhindered. No precautionary measures were taken by the police on Tuesday morning after the previous night’s clashes.