Students demanding quota reform clashed with police at various locations in Dhaka on Thursday, reportedly leaving several students and others injured.
In Merul Badda, near Brac University, clashes between the protesters and law enforcement also resulted in multiple injuries, according to media reports.
At around 10:30am, students blocked the road in Merul Badda. By 11am, clashes erupted between the demonstrators and police, who fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, completely halting traffic in the area.
As of noon, intermittent clashes were ongoing.
Students from various educational institutions also blocked the road at the entrance to Bashundhara Residential Area on Pragati Sarani, with law enforcement on high alert.
In Jatrabari, protesters blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, causing a complete shutdown of traffic and severe inconvenience to the public. The protesters began their blockade early in the morning.
A significant police presence, including armoured vehicles, was also observed at the Mirpur 10 roundabout, with most markets and shops from Shewrapara to the roundabout remaining closed.
Heavy police presence was observed across Dhaka, and the number of vehicles and pedestrians was significantly lower than usual.
The protesters on Wednesday declared a complete shutdown, demanding the end of what they called police brutality against their peaceful student movement, justice for those killed during demonstrations, the assurance of a violence-free campus and a rational reform of the quota system.
They announced that during this shutdown, only emergency services, including hospitals and media, would remain operational.
The announcement followed student protests, roadblocks and clashes with the police occurred across Dhaka and other parts of the country throughout the day.
In the evening, Siam, 18, was killed while returning home from work as protesters clashed with police in Shonir Akhra, Jatrabari.
The area had turned into a battlefield, with at least eight protesters and two policemen injured.
Fires and vandalism were reported, including multiple motorcycles, toll plaza booths on the Hanif Flyover and a police box.
Tyres and wood logs were also set ablaze on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.
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