New Era | BCL and JL attack protesters at Science Laboratory crossing

The ruling Awami League’s student wing, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, and its youth wing, the Bangladesh Juba League, attacked quota protesters at the Science Laboratory crossing in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Tuesday.

Hundreds of students from Dhaka College, City College, Ideal College Dhanmondi and Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College blocked the crossing at around 12 noon and chanted slogans demanding reform of public employment quotas in the presence of police.

The protesters said they were attacked at around 2:00 p.m. by several hundred activists from JL and BCL, armed with machetes, iron rods, sticks and guns. Dozens of protesters were injured in the incident.

Refatul Islam, deputy commissioner of the New Market Zone of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said he heard gunshots and police took steps to protect protesting students.

“We are now on alert,” he added.