Dhaka, Aug 26 [V7N] – A violent clash broke out on Sunday night between students of Dhaka University (DU) and members of the Ansar, a paramilitary auxiliary force, at the Secretariat, leaving several injured. The confrontation erupted around 9 pm, following reports that key figures from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, including coordinators Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah, were under siege at the Secretariat.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, led primarily by Dhaka University students, has been advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in Bangladesh. The movement has gained significant momentum in recent months, highlighting issues of social inequality and government neglect. Tensions have been rising between the movement’s supporters and authorities, culminating in a series of confrontations over the last few weeks.

As word spread that Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah were detained, students from various halls of Dhaka University quickly mobilized. They gathered at the Raju Bhashkorjo, a well-known protest site on campus, before marching towards the Secretariat to demand the release of their leaders.

Upon reaching the Secretariat, the situation deteriorated rapidly as a confrontation broke out between the students and the Ansar members stationed there. Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes, with both sides engaging in back-and-forth chases. Violent clashes ensued, with students accusing the Ansar of using excessive force.

One DU final-year student, Saidul, claimed that Ansar members attacked the students first, leading to injuries, including several students reportedly having their legs broken. Additionally, Asif Hawlader, the Dhaka University correspondent for the leading newspaper Prothom Alo, was reportedly beaten by Ansar members and had to be admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for treatment.

The situation continued to spiral out of control until around 10 pm, when personnel from the Bangladesh Army arrived at the scene to restore order. By 9:45 pm, Ansar members had been forced to retreat, and the protesting students took up positions in front of the National Press Club, adjacent to the Secretariat. As of 10:40 pm, students remained gathered, chanting slogans against the ruling Awami League and the Ansar members.

Earlier in the evening, Hasnat Abdullah had posted a video on Facebook, urgently calling on supporters to gather at Raju Bhashkorjo. In the video, he accused Ansar members of acting as agents of "autocratic forces" and violently repressing students, even after the movement's demands had been partially accepted. His video message galvanized students to take immediate action, leading to the night's confrontation.

This incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between student activists and government-affiliated forces in Bangladesh, reflecting the ongoing struggle between progressive student movements and the state's security apparatus. The use of paramilitary forces like the Ansar to suppress student movements is a tactic that dates back to previous regimes, echoing the nation’s turbulent political history where student activism has often been met with harsh crackdowns.

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