Clashes between police, protesters transform Sylhet into battlefield

Clashes between police and protesters during a demonstration led by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement transformed Sylhet city into a scene of conflict.

The protest programme began on Saturday afternoon when students gathered in Chowhatta of the city and the demonostrations quickly drew in locals.

Protesters hurled brickbats at police, who responded with stun grenades, tear gas shells, and rubber bullets to disperse them.

The Chouhatta, Dargagate, Mirboxtula, and Zindabazar areas in the city looked like a war zone during the clashes, with protesters burning fires on the streets.

Witnesses said students started gathering at Chouhatta at 1pm.

By 2pm, they had blocked the road at Chouhatta Point and begun their protest.

Students from schools, colleges, and the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology joined in, along with many parents.

Despite rain from around 3:30pm, the protests continued.

Many participants handed out water and biscuits.

BNP’s Joint Organising Secretary and Acting President of Sylhet Metropolitan Unit Miftah Siddiqui arrived with a procession and joined the protests.

The protesters, many of them carrying sticks, chanted anti-government slogans in the Shaheed Minar area.

The law enforcers were also on high alert at key points of the city.

At 4:20pm, Abdullah Al Galib, the chief coordinator of the movement in the city and a student at SUST, told reporters: "We will continue our peaceful sit-in here for a little longer. We will leave once we receive further instructions.”

 “However, our movement will continue. We will also start a non-cooperation movement on Sunday."