Bangladesh
Dhaka New Market Students demand removal of New Market from Dhaka College area
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, April 20: More than 200 students were injured in a clash between Dhaka College students and New Market businessmen and employees. The students blamed the shopkeepers and hawkers for the incident. Students alleged the shopkeepers misbehave with buyers in the name of business.
Students have been protesting against this for a long time. This is not the first time, even before this, there have been several bloody clashes between businessmen and students of Dhaka College over various issues. The students have demanded to move New Market from Dhaka College area to another place to avoid these clashes in future.
The students made this demand in front of the main gate of Dhaka College by blocking the main road around 9 pm on Tuesday (April 19).
College student Mahfuzur Rahman said, "Dhaka College is the pride of Bangladesh. This ancient institution was created before the establishment of Dhaka University. The businessmen of New Market want to get Dhaka College in trouble. New Market will have to be shifted from the side of Dhaka College. If Dhaka College wants, it can make history again."
Supporting Mahfuzur's statement, an agitating student said, "New Market traders have no knowledge of education. They have nothing but money. They will not understand the dignity of the students. The role of the police should be neutral but they have attacked us in alliance with the businessmen. The police have lathicharged us."
Another protesting student said that some 'businessmen-cum-hooligans' want Dhaka College to get up from here. This is an 181-year-old traditional institution. There has been no other institution before. How do they (New Market traders) say let Dhaka College move away from here. We are demanding that New Market should be shifted from Dhaka College area soon.
Meanwhile, the students of Dhaka College have rejected the decision of closure of the hall and campus. They say they will stay in residential halls and campus at any cost. Students claim that some unscrupulous merchants in New Market are driving up the price of clothing. In addition, they sledge buyers, especially women customers, if they do not buy after choosing clothes. Whenever Dhaka College students protest against these, the clash takes place.
