Students, traders clash in Dhaka

Dhaka, April 19 : College students and traders in the New Market area in the Bangladeshi capital have clashed again, leading to a blockade of the area on Tuesday by a mass of students. The violence erupted one day earlier after a tiff over bargaining. As a result of the fresh troubles, all the shops in the New Market were closed and traffic on both sides of the otherwise busy road was stopped. The clashes started around midnight on Monday and the tension lasted until dawn. After the incident, the students of Dhaka College — one of the three main educational institutions located there — have vowed not to let the shops reopen in New Market. Apparently, some of the students insisted on getting discounts on their purchases. When a section of the traders refused to relent, it first led to arguments, which developed into a free for all. All classes and examinations of Dhaka College were postponed on Tuesday. At one point, to quell the clashes, the fired tear to disperse the mobs. The students claimed that many of them were injured by rubber bullets fired by the police. The condition of one of the injured was said to be critical. Motorcycles parked on either side of the road were set on fire during the violence. The streets were littered with broken bricks and glass bottles. MAZ MR

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