Gulistan area of the capital turned into a battlefield following sporadic clashes between protesting students and law enforcers on Tuesday afternoon, leaving more than 70 students injured, with many currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Police and witnesses said students from several colleges gathered in front of the Secretariat, demanding the resignation of Education Adviser C. Abrar.
During the protest, they broke through the gates of the Secretariat and entered its premises. Later, police and army personnel drove out the students from the Secretariat area.
A series of chases and counter-chases took place in front of the Secretariat, with police repeatedly firing tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the protesters.
The students were demonstrating against the lack of accurate information regarding the casualties in the Milestone tragedy and the suspension of the HSC examinations.
They demanded the resignation of not only the Education Adviser but also Education Secretary Siddiq Zubair.
The agitating students alleged: “The announcement of the SSC exam suspension came late at night following the plane crash. As a result, many students, unaware of the decision, went to the exam centers only to find out that the exam had been postponed. This caused immense harassment.”
They also demanded a proper investigation into the Milestone School airplane accident and the publication of accurate information.
Students from City College, Dhaka College, Mirpur Bangla College, and other institutions took part in the protests.