Renewed protests erupted in Dhaka on Monday as some leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement defied calls to end the quota reform demonstrations.
Despite six key movement leaders announcing the withdrawal of protests while in police custody, other activists called for demonstrations in multiple locations across the city.
Protesters gathered in key areas including ECB intersection, Science Laboratory, Dhanmondi, New Market, and Badda, leading to traffic disruptions and unrest. Law enforcement responded by deploying heavy forces and redirecting traffic and dispersed the protesters.
Several protesters were arrested in front of Star Kabab in Dhanmondi and Mirpur-10 roundabout. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mirpur Police Station, Munshi Sabbir, confirmed that 10 people were arrested at the Mirpur-10 roundabout. Assistant Commissioner of the Newmarket Zone, Refatul Islam, stated that 10 people were arrested in front of Star Kabab in Dhanmondi.
Since morning, police and BGB personnel were deployed in these areas. Helicopter patrols by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and army patrols on various roads in the capital were also observed.
Police officials characterised the ongoing protests as criminal activities, distancing themselves from the original quota reform movement. Meanwhile, students from various private universities expressed solidarity with the continuing demonstrations.
A protest programme at 11am on Monday was announced late on Sunday night.
On Sunday, six conveners of the quota protest movement released a video statement while in the custody of the police Detective Branch, calling for the protest movement to end.
But three other coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement – Abdul Hannan Masud, Mahin Sarkar, and assistant convener Rifat Rashid – said they rejected the call to end the movement and announced fresh protest programmes for Monday.
Students from several private universities in Dhaka announced their solidarity with the protests.
Law enforcers across Dhaka were on alert on Monday morning following the announcement.