In the early morning of 5th August, on the eve of Hasina’s spectacular fall, students from North South University (NSU) and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) gathered in front of the NSU gate near Wooden Spoon, preparing to join the larger protest in front of Jamuna Future Park (JFP). According to a student who was there, there were only 100-150 students.
As they sat together, 4-6 police vehicles suddenly arrived from the IUB direction. Without warning, the police began firing rubber bullets and tear gas grenades at the crowd. Many students, including numerous young women, were caught off guard and unable to immediately comprehend the situation. Amid screams and confusion, these protesters rushed inside the NSU campus for safety. Police threw grenades onto the campus grounds. A video shows police firing tear gas shells inside the campus, just like BRAC University.
During this chaos, three protesters sustained severe injuries. While students attempted to provide first aid, their efforts were insufficient. There were several gunshots, and students’ blood on the floor-stairs of the North-South campus.
The NSU authorities initially refused to open the on-campus pharmacy, prompting students to eventually break down the doors to access emergency medical supplies. Ahmed Rifat, a student protester, said in a Facebook comment, “Gate number 3-4 were open at first. When we ran towards that gate after being shot, the guard locked the gate. The students were told to go through the gate.” A video clip shows a student trying to enter through a gap in the closed gate, and the police beating him while he was stuck there.
Severely injured students were taken to hospital by ambulances.
Date – 5th August
Location – North South University, Dhaka
Source – Collected from a Facebook post
