Quota protest death toll rises to 202 as 1 more dies in DMCH

Pedestrian Zakir Hossain (29) who was undergoing treatment after being shot during a clash recently at Rayer Bagh in the capital between police and quota reform activists.

Zakir died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Wednesday (July 24) night, raising the death toll from the violent clashes centring quota reform movement to 202. 

So far, 202 people have been reported dead across the country, including Dhaka, during the 4/5 days of violent clashes between quota reform activists and law enforcing personnel.

The death toll is based on sources from some hospitals, people who brought the bodies to hospitals and relatives of the dead. However, information from all the hospitals could not be collected thoroughly.

According to the information received so far, six people died on July 16 (Tuesday), 41 on July 18 (Thursday), 84 on July 19 (Friday), 38 on July 20 (Saturday), 21 on July 21 (Sunday), five on July 22 (Monday), three on July 23 (Tuesday) and four on July 24 (Wednesday). 

It should be noted that on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the death occurred while undergoing treatment.

A few government ministers and state ministers held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon about the situation after the conflict at the Home Affairs Ministry.

A number of ministers who participated in the meeting told the media that it has been decided to calculate the exact number of lives lost in the conflict surrounding this movement. The information will be collected from all over the country through the relevant departments and organizations with the help of the home ministry.

Bachchu Mia, Inspector of Dhaka Medical College Hospital Police Camp, confirmed Zakir's death. He told the media that Zakir's body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy.

His elder brother Monir Hossain said, “Zakir used to work in a tailor shop in Rayerbagh. He was returning home after performing Friday prayers. At that time, he was shot dead in a clash between protesters and the police in Rayerbagh area. He was shot in the abdomen. Pedestrians rescued him and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. After getting the news, I went to the hospital.”

Zakir's family lived in Rayerbagh. He has a wife and a daughter. Zakir's house is in Dasmina upazila of Patuakhali district. His father's name is Abdul Mannan Khan.