Dhaka, Bangladesh: On Sunday, August 25, around 9:45 PM, Ansar personnel, who were reportedly barricaded inside the Dhaka Secretariat, opened fire on students. The incident occurred as students attempted to approach the Secretariat in response to a call from the leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Hasnat Abdullah.
Earlier in the evening, Hasnat Abdullah accused a group of Ansar members of detaining interim government advisors and assaulting officials and employees at the Secretariat, despite their demands being met. In a video message, Abdullah urged students to gather in front of the Secretariat. When students from Dhaka University responded and tried to march toward the area, Ansar members began throwing bricks at them, followed by gunfire. Reports indicate that at least 20 students were injured and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
As of 8:45 PM, students were still gathered in the education area of the Secretariat.
For context, Ansar members have been protesting for the nationalization of their jobs for the past two days at Shahbagh and in front of the National Press Club in the capital. On Sunday, they blocked several relief trucks meant for flood victims. Later in the day, a faction of the Ansar force entered the Secretariat and staged a protest inside.
Although the Home Advisor promised to abolish the “rest system” and assured them their demands would be met, the Ansar members remained firm in their demand for job nationalization, detaining several advisors and secretaries inside the Secretariat. Upon hearing this, the students began their march toward the Secretariat, leading to a violent clash.