Protesters stage sit-in after clashes with police over deferring 47th BCS exam

An hour of clashes between police and job seekers demanding a postponement of the 47th BCS written exam have brought traffic at Shahbagh to a standstill, while protesters staged sit-in outside the police station.

Clashes erupted on Tuesday afternoon when the demonstrators broke through police barricades and attempted to march toward the State Guest House Jamuna, the official residence of the chief advisor.

After about an hour of back-and-forth chases, the protesters regrouped and began demonstrating outside Shahbagh Police Station.

The job seekers have been demonstrating across the country, including the capital, to postpone the BCS written exam. They blockaded railways in Mymensingh and Natore as well.

Shahbagh Police Inspector Asaduzzaman said the protesters demonstrated in front of the station around 6:45pm on Tuesday.

The officer said a police vehicle was damaged during the clash, which spread to TSC from the intersection.

Several protesters were reportedly injured in the clash and are now being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The traffic movement through the intersection was temporarily suspended. The movement, however, has resumed.

Additional personnel have been deployed, police said.

“We have put up a barricade in front of the police station. We are trying to persuade them,” said Asaduzzman.