March for Justice: Over 90 injured, 100 detained as protests intensify nationwide

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM

March for Justice: Over 90 injured, 100 detained as protests intensify nationwide

Bangla Press Desk: More than 90 people, including students, journalists and police personnel, were injured, and at least 100 were detained on 31 July as student-led demonstrations demanding justice for the killings of protesters and the release of leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement (ADSM) escalated across the country. Amid the growing unrest, the United Nations offered to send an independent fact-finding team to help build trust among stakeholders and reduce tensions. Meanwhile, Amnesty International expressed alarm over the violent crackdown, and the European Union suspended scheduled negotiations with Bangladesh on a new cooperation agreement. Nationwide protests draw wide support

Tens of thousands of students were joined by teachers, lawyers and cultural activists in mass demonstrations held in major cities including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Barishal and Khulna. According to English daily the New Age, at least 100 people were injured in clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement across the country. The violence intensified as police attempted to block the protesters’ “March for Justice” programme, which was announced on 30 July. In Dhaka, hundreds of students gathered in front of the High Court for over three hours, demanding justice for the deaths of fellow protesters and the immediate release of six ADSM organisers. Teachers from both public and private universities also joined the demonstration. A group of lawyers broke through police and Border Guard Bangladesh barricades to join the students.

Police initially detained nine protesters near the High Court but were forced to release them after demonstrators blocked police vehicles for an hour. Faculty members and students from Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology also staged protest processions on the DU campus and near the High Court. Violence spreads beyond Dhaka In Chattogram, police detained several students from the Court Building area during a demonstration in support of the movement’s nine-point charter of demands. Lawyers also joined the protest, which continued until 3pm.

In Sylhet, police fired tear gas and sound grenades at protesters near Subid Bazar as they marched from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, breaking through police barricades. In Khulna, at least 30 people, mostly students, were injured in clashes in Sadar upazila. Around 40 were arrested as a protest procession moved from Nirala Mor towards Royal Mor. In Barishal, at least 50 people, including five journalists, were injured when police charged a crowd of student protesters along Sadar Road and Fazlul Haque Avenue. Twelve demonstrators were detained. In Rajshahi, police arrested at least 24 students as they prepared to join the March for Justice programme in various parts of the city. UN offers fact-finding mission In a letter to the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina dated 31 July, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk offered to deploy an independent fact-finding team to support the government’s efforts to restore calm.

“In these challenging times, my office is ready to support your efforts in resolving the current crisis,” he wrote. Amnesty International voices concern Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard addressed an open letter to Sheikh Hasina, expressing deep concern over the state’s violent suppression of student protesters. Published on 30 July on Amnesty’s website, the letter cited the use of live ammunition, arbitrary arrests, detention, mistreatment and torture by law enforcement, as well as violent attacks allegedly carried out by pro-government groups. Amnesty also issued a series of demands to protect fundamental rights and ensure accountability. This article was originally published on Daily Sun.

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[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]