DU Correspondent:

The police have fired tear shells and sound grenades at a students’ procession, organised after absentee funeral prayers [Gayebana Janaza] held at Dhaka University (DU) in memory of those killed in the quota reform movement.

This incident took place on the road towards TSC from VC Chattar of DU around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The protesting students held absentee funeral prayers at 4pm, and later tried to march towards the TSC intersection with coffins. At that time, the police fired sound grenades, tear shells at them. They reportedly also fired shotguns at the demonstration.

In response, the students started pelting bricks at the police. Students also clashed with the police in other areas of the university. Many students have been injured, sources say.

The police had earlier detonated at least six sound grenades in the TSC area around 3:30pm. At that time, they detained ex-DUCSU social welfare secretary Akhtar Hossain from the area.

Police first detonated five sound grenades at TSC’s Raju Bhaskarya area, triggering panic. Police then detained student leader Akhtar Hossain from there. A short time later another sound grenade was detonated near Ruqayyah Hall.

Journalist Ahmed Shabib Abdullah has been injured in the commotion.