Looking back on July 15: Students clash with Chhatra League
Today is Tuesday, July 15. A year ago, on this day, on the one hand, the Chhatra League’s horrific attack on protesting students, and on the other hand, the ministers’ provocative statements—all in all, the 15th in the “July Smriti Calendar” is the day from which the students’ movement began to take the form of a mass movement of the people. At 12 noon on this day, several hundred students from various educational institutions including Dhaka University, seven colleges, and Dhaka Medical College gathered in front of the Raju Statue. The anger over the previous night’s ‘Rajakar’ tagging had not subsided, but rather spread even more. Suddenly, tension spread in front of Bijoy Ekattor Hall. The entire campus became heated with the news of the arrest of the protesters. The students’ clash with Chhatra League leaders and activists who had already taken positions spread to various halls. The Chhatra League and Jubo League launched armed attacks in response to the students’ throwing bricks and stones. The clash lasted for about 40 minutes. At least 400 people, including female students, were injured. After 4 pm, the Chhatra League took visible control of the campus. They held demonstrations at various points with helmets and sticks. Meanwhile, students of private universities took to the field for the first time today in the quota reform movement. Around 12 noon, students of UIU, AIUB and North South University blocked roads by taking positions at Pragati Sarani, Badda and Kuril. On that day, Chhatra League attacks on students continued across the country. The impact of the attack on Chittagong University reached Sholashar. Clashes also broke out at Jahangirnagar University. Similar incidents continued throughout the day in Rangpur, Khulna, Sylhet and Rajshahi. While the students were bleeding from the Chhatra League attack, the then ministers made provocative and arrogant speeches against the protesters at various events. In the evening, Chhatra League again carried out several armed attacks on students undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College. Police took up positions on the campus after evening to bring the situation under control. The Vice-Chancellor held an emergency meeting with the hall provosts.
