Staff Correspondent:

More than 70 students were injured in police action at the Secretariat in the capital on Tuesday, with many currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

According to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), over 70 injured students arrived in the afternoon and received primary treatment, with no one reported to be in critical condition.

Thousands of students gathered outside the Secretariat in protest, demanding justice for the victims of a recent plane crash involving students from Milestone College in Uttara.

They also condemned the late-night postponement of the HSC examination, which was announced at 3am, and called for action against Education Adviser CR Abrar.

At one point, the protesters broke through Gate No. 1 of the Secretariat and entered the premises, causing damage.

In response, police resorted to baton-charging the students, leaving them injured.

Nazmus Sakib, a student of Lalbagh Model College and one of the injured, said, “Police hit me and my friend with the butt of a gun. I can’t even walk to the hospital.”

Another injured student, Sohag from Dhaka College, said, “A teargas shell exploded near my feet. My eyes and face are burning. I’ve hurt my leg badly.”

Student blocked the roads around the Secretariat bringing traffic to a standstill on both sides from midday.

Law enforcement officers later cleared the roads using batons, sound grenades and teargas shells, allowing traffic to resume.

Later, the protesting students moved from the Secretariat to the area in front of the National Stadium Market area. But, police dispersed them after several rounds of chase.

Traffic in the area has now returned to normal.