Desk Report,
‘Real July Warriors’ attack on Shahbagh protesters, police lathicharge both sides
A group of people had been blocking the Shahbagh intersection in the capital since yesterday morning, claiming to be ‘July fighters’. After a 32-hour blockade, another group of people attacked the blockaders at around 6:30 pm on Friday, claiming to be ‘real July fighters’. They removed the barricades placed around the Shahbagh intersection.
‘Real July Warriors’ attack on Shahbagh protesters, police lathicharge both sides
At one point, a clash broke out between the two sides. Then the police arrived and lathicharged both sides and removed them from the road. After that, traffic started moving in full swing through the Shahbagh intersection. Masud Alam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ramna Division, told Prothom Alo that a group of people claiming to be ‘July fighters’ had been blocking the Shahbagh intersection since yesterday morning. Despite repeated attempts to persuade them, they could not be removed from the road. This evening, another group claiming to be July fighters came to Shahbagh. There was a fight and chaos between the two sides. In such a situation, there is a risk of a major accident. In the interest of safety, the police removed both sides from the road. After that, traffic movement at Shahbagh intersection returned to normal. Shahbagh intersection was blocked at 10:30 am yesterday under the banner of July martyrs’ families and July fighters (injured). This stopped traffic movement at this oldest intersection in Dhaka. The protesters continued to block there throughout the day and night. This morning, a group of protesters was seen blocking Shahbagh intersection despite the rain. Of course, since there were fewer protesters in the morning, the cars that had passed through Farmgate-Bangla Motor were able to go towards Matsya Bhaban through Shahbagh intersection. Again, although the cars coming from Katabon could come onto the road towards Bangla Motor, they were not able to go towards Matsya Bhaban. Traffic movement at Shahbagh intersection towards Dhaka University and Katabon was also blocked.
