Student protest turn violent in Dhaka

Dhaka: Student protesters for seven days have brought parts of capital Dhaka to a standstill, clashing with police demanding safer roads.

More than 100 people have been injured as the police fired rubber bullets, reports say.

Students wearing school smock and carrying bags on their backs poured into streets in their thousands chanting “we want justice”.

Protests erupted after a boy and girl were killed by a speeding bus last Sunday.

The agitation got momentum as it brought to focus Bangladesh’s malfunctioning transport sector which is largely seen corrupt and ill-equipped.

The teenagers’ death caused outpouring of anger on social media and eventually it spilled over to the streets.

The authorities pleaded with protesters, students in their mid-teens, to call off their agitation. Meanwhile, protesters went berserk vandalizing vehicles and clashing with police.

Protesters reportedly flagged down cars and buses to check whether drivers had valid licences and vehicles were roadworthy.

The situation brought Dhaka to a standstill just as a rain poured down, causing gridlock in the streets.

There were unconfirmed reports of pro-government student-outfits attacking protesters.

Meanwhile, in its bid to contain the violence, the government blocked mobile and internet services 24 hours days ago.