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Doctors said Nur suffered a head injury, jaw and nose fractures, and minor internal bleeding. His face and eyes remain swollen with blood accumulation.

The former Ducsu VP was brought to the emergency ward around 11:20pm Friday and later shifted to the ICU, said Dr Mostak Ahmed, a resident surgeon at DMCH.

A medical board comprising specialists from neurosurgery, ENT, ophthalmology, and casualty departments has been formed.

“We do not think he needs surgery at the moment, but he is still not out of danger,” Dr Mostak said.

The attack on Nur set off widespread condemnation and protests throughout the country.

Gono Odhikar Parishad activists yesterday rallied in the capital’s Bijoy Nagar, placing three demands: banning the Jatiya Party within 48 hours, forming a committee immediately to investigate the attack, and the resignation of the home affairs adviser.

“We want justice,” said General Secretary Rashed Khan.

In Rajshahi, a section of Rajshahi University students blocked the Dhaka–Rajshahi highway for nearly an hour from 11:30am, joined by around 50 students from different departments. The rally was addressed by Fahim Reza, former coordinator of Students Against Discrimination, and Al Shahriar Shuvo, general secretary of the Student Rights Council.

In Chattogram, protesters blocked Soloshohor Gate No. 2 from noon to 2:00pm, chanting slogans and setting tyres ablaze, halting traffic for nearly two hours.

In Tangail, demonstrators vandalised the Jatiya Party office near the police station before blocking the Dhaka–Tangail highway for about half an hour. “The situation is now calm, and additional police have been deployed,” said Tanvir Ahmed, OC of Tangail Sadar Police Station.

In Munshiganj, 30-35 protesters blocked the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway for 15 minutes, while another group staged a procession in the town that ended at the press club. Speakers there demanded justice and called for the cancellation of Jatiya Party’s registration with the Election Commission.

In Pabna, Gono Odhikar Parishad men blocked the Jamuna bridge west zone intersection in Sirajganj for nearly half an hour around 12:30pm. Hatikumrul Highway Police Station OC Ismail Hossain said they removed the demonstrators after a few minutes of the blockade.

Gono Odhikar Parishad activists also blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Chandana intersection in Gazipur’s Basao for about one and a half hours from around 6:00pm.

They organised a torch procession and protest rally blocking the road in Gopalganj as well.

[Our correspondents in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Gazipur, Pabna, Tangail, Munshiganj and Gopalganj contributed to this report]