Violence erupted in Dhaka on Sunday night as a dispute between students and paramilitary personnel turned into a full-blown clash, resulting in at least 50 injuries. The incident occurred around 9:20 p.m. near the Secretariat, following a tense day of protests by members of the Ansar, a paramilitary auxiliary force. The unrest began when Dhaka University students reportedly heard that several students, including Nahid Islam, a prominent student leader and adviser in the caretaker government, had been detained by Ansar personnel. In response, a group of students gathered and attempted to disperse the Ansar demonstration, which was focused on demands for job regularization and permanent positions within the government structure.
The confrontation quickly escalated as both sides hurled bricks at each other, with students and Ansar members chasing each other through the streets. Law enforcement agencies, including police and army personnel, were soon deployed to bring the situation under control. The scene remained chaotic for several hours, with the injured being taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Earlier in the day, Ansar members had called off their protest after receiving assurances from Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the interim government’s home affairs adviser, that their demands would be addressed. Despite this, tensions continued to simmer, with students accusing the Ansar of not upholding their end of the agreement. Hasnat Abdullah, a student protest coordinator, took to social media to criticize the actions of the Ansar force. In his post, he directly blamed Maj Gen AKM Aminul Haque, the former Ansar director general, for the ongoing unrest. Abdullah alleged that even though the protestors’ demands had been met, they were still being kept under lockdown in the Secretariat, sparking further outrage among the student community.
The situation escalated when over a thousand students and others, armed with sticks, gathered at the Secretariat in response to news of the ongoing blockade. The large crowd confronted Ansar members, leading to violent clashes. Reports emerged of Ansar personnel being attacked and dispersed by the students, adding to the volatile atmosphere.
Nahid Islam, the information and broadcasting adviser who was among those detained, spoke out against the Ansar demonstration. He suggested that the protest was part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize the government and promised legal action against those involved. In contrast, Maj Gen Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud, the current director general of Ansar and Village Defence Force, defended his organization. He claimed that the individuals who continued the protest were not actual Ansar members but outsiders with ulterior motives. He assured that appropriate legal measures would be taken to address the situation.
The clashes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing unrest in Dhaka, highlighting the tensions between student groups and government-affiliated forces. The events have drawn widespread attention, raising questions about the stability of the interim government and its ability to manage protests and civil unrest.
