At least 25 students were injured in sporadic clashes between police and students on the Dhaka University campus yesterday as the Prime Minister opened the Amar Ekushey Bol Mela at the Bangla Academy premises adjacent to the campus.
Five people were hospitalised with bullet and bomb injuries, according to our DMCH correspondent.
None was arrested in connection with the violence, according to police.
The trouble started shortly after Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia arrived at the heavily guarded Bangla Academy premises to inaugurate the month-long book fair.
A series of crude bombs were exploded and several rounds of shot were fired on the campus as the PM was inaugurating the book fair.
Police lobbed tear gas shells and used batons to disperse student marchers who were demonstrating
against the PM's visit to the campus and protesting Wednesday’s police raid’ in two DU dormitories that left at least 200 students injured.
A tense situation was prevailing in and around the DU since yesterday as activists of different students' organisations. predominantly female students, took positions at different points.
Scattered processions tried to march towards the venue of the book fair in their DU teachers bid to register their protest.
Large contingents of riot police. BDR and plain clothesmen set up security rings around the Bangla Academy since Wednesday night.
Police cars were seen patrolling the DU roads while vehicles with water cannon stood parked near the TSC.
All roads leading to the campus was closed and only people having invitation as well as those belonging to the ruling party were allowed inside the venue.
Even the photo journalists of different newspapers were barred, leaders of the Bangladesh Photo Journalists' Association alleged in a statement.
Activists belonging to the EBNP Jatiyatabadi Chhatra who had earlier announced that they would face the protesters, also took positions around the Academy premises apparently in their bld to block any procession.
The JCD workers, however, left their positions immediately before the PM arrived and police replaced them.
The first procession came out at about 9-30 am when the female students took to the streets with black headgears. badges and black flags.
The procession paraded several campus roads but were blocked by the JCD workers near Madhu s Canteen and in front of the university library.
A procession of the leftleaning Democratic Students Union went to the Milan Chattar at about 11-10 and hoisted black flag.
DU teachers brought out a silent procession at about 10 am and staged a sit-In near the TSC road crossing.
At about 11-45 am. shots were fired in the TSC area. Police swung into action and used tear gas cannisters and batons to disperse the mob. They also chased several processions. campus sources said.
The entire area, was rocked by gunshots, explo-
sion of hand-bombs of teargas shells, as opposition activists ran in all direction for safe •nd lobbing shelter.
After the PM had left, a JCD procession went to the Arts building and stormed Madhu's Canteen.
Obaldur Rahman Chunnu. General Secretary of the pro JSD Chhatra League (ICC), was assaulted allegedly by JCD activist^
After the inauguration of
the book fair, trouble spread to Gulistan. Btjoynagar. Press Club. Paltan, Chankharpool and Mahakhali areas where crowds damaged cars.
Agitators set ablaze a bus in Gulistan area, a jeep at Pu rana Paltan, a police motor bike at Bakhshi Bazar area and a private car at Segun bagicha.
Police tear-gassed the crowd and used batons which left nearly a dozen injured.