4 rounds of sound grenades were fired

DU Correspondent:

Four people, including a former Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) leader, were detained on Wednesday when they attempted to stage a sit-in at TSC in support of the quota reform movement and to protest against the killings.

In the afternoon, the police tried to disperse them at first, and when they refused to leave, four rounds of sound grenades were fired.

Later, Akhtar Hossain, the former Social Services Secretary of Ducsu and three of his associates, were arrested.

This scene unfolded on Wednesday afternoon on the south side of the Raju Sculpture.

No statement was available from the police regarding the charges on which they were detained.

When asked about the matter, several police officers present at the scene declined to comment.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged of several people, including journalists, being injured by the sound grenade explosions.

One of the injured journalists has been identified as Channel S staff reporter Solaiman Kabir.

The injured journalist said: “There was no situation here that warranted the use of sound grenades. Nevertheless, we were injured in this manner.”

Later, protesters advocating for quota reform in public service held an absentee funeral (gayebana janaza) at VC Chattar in memory of those who died in clashes and attacks during recent demonstrations across Bangladesh.

Around 3pm, they began chanting slogans. At that time, police were seen standing in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence.

The students present claimed that they would not leave the residential halls.

Later, around 4pm, they offered funeral prayers. After the funeral, they gathered and attempted to move towards TSC. Police lobbed sound grenades to disperse them, resulting in a chase.

Around 5pm, a group of protesters left the DU premises through Nilkhet intersection while another group took shelter in hall para area of DU. Police took position in front of the Surjya Sen Hall as of writing this report at 5:20pm.