Aftermath of quota reform movement across the country

Sporadic incidents of deadly violence in many districts shook the country to the core during the past week centring the movement of general students demanding quota reforms in government jobs.

More than fifty policemen were injured in the countrywide violence. Apart from this, destructive activities were carried out in some places in the name of student movement. To bring the situation under control, the government was forced to impose curfew all over the country.

Several cases have been filed in different districts over these incidents. Police have arrested more than 150 accused so far in those cases.

This report is a compilation of the present situation at different districts of the country according to reports sent by our district correspondents.

Cox’s Bazar: Violence erupted in Cox's Bazar due to the general students' quota reform movement. About 2,000 people have been accused in six cases filed over the violent incidents that happened between July 16-20. According to the police, among these cases, a total of 297 people have been accused in two cases filed by Awami League and Chhatra League.

On July 21 (Monday), Aamir Uddin, general secretary of Ward No. 8 Municipal Awami League, filed a case on behalf of Awami League with Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station. The accused are Cox's Bazar district Mohila Dal president and councillor Nasima Akhter Bakul, BNP leader and councillor Osman Sarwar Tipu, Cox's Bazar district Chhatra Dal president Shahadat Hossain Ripon, general secretary Fahimur Rahman, district Swechchhasebak Dal convener Sarwar Roman, Jamaat leaders Shahidul Alam Bahadur, Liakat Ali and many Chhatra Dal and Shibir activists.

In the other cases filed by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) on July 21 (Monday), filed a case on behalf of JSD President Mohammad Hossain Masu. A total of 84 people, including unidentified people, were accused in the case.

Earlier on July 17 (Wednesday) 1,150 unidentified people were accused in three more cases filed by the police with Cox's Bazar Sadar and Chakaria police stations.

In these six cases, 51 people have been arrested so far, said the law enforcement agencies.

Chakaria police station OC Sheikh Nadem Ali and Cox's Bazar Sadar Model police station OC Md Rakibuzzaman confirmed this.

Barishal: The police have arrested 12 people including the Amir of Barisal Mahanagar Jamaat and member secretary of Mahanagar BNP in connection with the violence centered on the Barisal student movement. So far, 110 leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat have been arrested in Barisal city and 10 upazilas of the district in the last four days.

Barisal city and district police said that six cases were filed with four police stations of the city and three cases with three other police stations of the district in connection with the anti-quota movement. A total of 110 accused have been arrested in nine cases so far.

In this regard, Kotwali Model Police Station OC ATM Arichul Haque said that Ameer Zahir Uddin Mohammad Babar of Barisal Metropolitan Jamaat was arrested as an accused in the case filed over the assault and vandalism of a traffic police camp in Hatim Ali College Chowmatha area of the city. Besides, Zia Uddin Sikder, Member Secretary of Barisal Mahanagar BNP, has been arrested as an accused in the case filed by the police.

Kotwali Model Police Station GRO Enamul Haque said that in addition to those two, police have arrested four others in the sabotage case. They have been sent to jail by the court. Among them, Ziauddin Sikder is undergoing treatment in the hospital under police guard. The other three accused who were arrested are - Ward No. 4 BNP president Advocate Mohammad Taslim, Kamal Shikder, and Ferdous Ahmed.

Barishal Airport police station SI Mili said that the police have arrested four people in the last 24 hours. They are Nizamul Hasan Sumon, Shaheed Sardar, Jamal Sharif and Md Sabuj. GRO of Bandar police station Md Harun said that Halim Molla was arrested from his police station area.

Barisal district court inspector Mohammad Monirul Islam said that BNP activists Muhammad Shamim was arrested from Banaripara police station area. He was sent to jail by the court.

Mymensingh: DIG Md Shah Abid Hossain said that 70-80 policemen including two OCs were injured in the clash in Mymensingh centered on the anti-quota movement.

The DIG of Mymensingh range said that the police did not engage in any conflict with the agitating students as the movement of the students was logical. But a section of miscreants based on the movement carried out destructive activities and attempted sabotage.

He said that 70-80 policemen of Mymensingh Range Police were injured in the recent student agitation. Police car was damaged while police boxes, CC cameras and police installations were set on fire.

Sherpur: A police box was set on fire in Sherpur. The OC of Sadar police station was injured there. An attempt was made to sabotage the train in Jamalpur. Suman Chandra Roy, the former OC of Gouripur police station, was injured and is undergoing treatment at the police hospital in Dhaka.

Rajshahi: Curfew was relaxed for three hours on all types of movement in Rajshahi on Thursday as the situation around the Rajshahi student movement became somewhat normal.

In the public notice regarding relaxation of curfew issued by the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, it is said that will be taken against those who violate the law.

Bogura: Clashes, vandalism and arson have recently occurred in Bogura centring the student movement demanding quota reform. The preliminary estimate of the district administration is that property worth about Tk 3 crore has been damaged.

According to the information of the district administration, a teenager (16) died in police firing during the quota movement. Apart from this, more than 150 students were injured in the five days (July 16-20) of clashes between the quota reform activists and the police. At least 21 of them are policemen.

However, after the deployment of the army, the situation in the district started to normalize from last July 21 (Sunday). When the situation normalized, the Home Minister came to Bogura on July 25. He visited some buildings damaged by the miscreants' attack, including the office of the district Awami League.

Meanwhile, the police said that 15 cases have been filed in Bogura due to the violence caused by the quota movement. Out of this, 14 cases have been filed with Sadar thana and 1 with Sherpur police station. Some 136 people have been arrested in these cases till Sunday (July 28) noon. Among them, 97 were arrested in Sadar thana and 39 in Sherpur police station.

District Commissioner (DC) of Bogura Md Saiful Islam said many businessmen have suffered commercially due to the violence surrounding the quota reform movement. Their losses are yet to be calculated.

Bogura: Clashes, vandalism and arson have recently occurred in Bogura centring the student movement demanding quota reform. The preliminary estimate of the district administration is that property worth about Tk 3 crore has been damaged.

According to the information of the district administration, a teenager (16) died in police firing during the quota movement. Apart from this, more than 150 students were injured in the five days (July 16-20) of clashes between the quota reform activists and the police. At least 21 of them are policemen.

However, after the deployment of the army, the situation in the district started to normalize from last July 21 (Sunday). When the situation normalized, the Home Minister came to Bogura on July 25. He visited some buildings damaged by the miscreants' attack, including the office of the district Awami League.

Meanwhile, the police said that 15 cases have been filed in Bogura due to the violence caused by the quota movement. Out of this, 14 cases have been filed with Sadar thana and 1 with Sherpur police station. Some 136 people have been arrested in these cases till Sunday (July 28) noon. Among them, 97 were arrested in Sadar thana and 39 in Sherpur police station.

District Commissioner (DC) of Bogura Md Saiful Islam said many businessmen have suffered commercially due to the violence surrounding the quota reform movement. Their losses are yet to be calculated.