Students of Jagannath University (JnU) protesting for the quota reforms were attacked and four were shot in an attack near the campus on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred when a few thousand students were crossing Ray Saheb Bazar intersection around 3:30 pm.
Among the injured, three were identified as Ferdous Ahmed, Anik, of the Management Department, and Onto.
The students alleged that Old Dhaka unit Awami League and Jubo League activists opened fire on them.
The injured were admitted to the National Medical College Hospital.
Kotwali zone ASP Nazrul said, "I have heard the news of the shooting. But we saw only one group marching. We did not see another group."
Dr Arif, in-charge of the emergency department of National Medical College Hospital, said four bullet-hit students and one with stab injuries were brought to the hospital.
The students who sustained bullet wounds were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the other injured student is receiving treatment at the hospital, he said.
Earlier at about 3:10 pm, the students with stumps and sticks gathered on the JnU campus and adjacent areas.
RAS/MSU