Student’s death in road accident
30 hurt as police, students clash
World University of Bangladesh students on Saturday rampaged through the Science Laboratory crossing and adjoining areas in sequel to clashes that took place on Friday after a fellow had been killed in a road accident near Lab Aid Hospital Friday morning.
At least 30 people, including policemen, were injured as the students on Saturday clashed with the police by blocking the Mirpur Road about 10:00am. The students vandalised at least 20 vehicles.
Traffic on the road had been suspended for more than three hours. The blockade of the Mirpur Road caused tailback on other roads in the area.
Mustafizur Rahman, a first-year student of the university, died after a covered van knocked Mustafiz down when he was crossing the Mirpur Road about 10:30am on Friday.
The police on Saturday picked up six students and two teachers of the university from in front of Lab Aid Hospital and took them to the Dhanmondi police station, the officer-in-charge of the police station, Shah Alam, said.
Witnesses said the clash had begun about 10:30am when the students blocked the road and formed a human chain, demanding a speed breaker and a footbridge in front of Lab Aid hospital.
At one point, the law enforcers reached the place and asked the students to call off their blockade. The students then pelted the police with stones near the hospital.
The lawmen charged with truncheons at the demonstrators, leading to clashes in which at least 30, including the Dhanmondi police officer-in-charge, assistant commissioner Afrozul Haq and subinspector Aksed Ali, were injured.
Three of the injured policemen were admitted to Lab Aid Hospital.
The students also damaged about 20 vehicles during the clashes that continued for two hours. Traffic on the road highway resumed at around 1:30pm.
The Dhanmondhi police said the students had rampaged through the area even after being assured that their demands would be met.
The students, however, alleged the police had raided their halls although they were holding their programme peacefully in protest at the death of their fellow.
They said the police had arrested two of their teachers at the university campus.
A large number of lawmen were deployed in the area to avoid further untoward incidents.
Soon after the accident on Friday, the people, including the university students, blocked the Mirpur Road and vandalised dozens of vehicles, suspending traffic for more than half an hour beginning 4:00pm.
