Police cordon off Shahbagh as crowds gather amid Ducsu vote counting
2 outsiders detained in connection with the polls, armoured vehicle stationed in front of Shahbagh Police Station, water cannon also brought in
Law enforcement agencies tightened security in the Shahbagh area tonight (9 September) centering the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) elections, blocking all entry points to the campus from Shahbagh.
Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Khalid Monsur told TBS that two outsiders had been detained in connection with the polls and were being interrogated about their presence in the area.
At around 11pm, an armoured vehicle was stationed in front of Shahbagh Police Station, while a water cannon was also brought to the spot.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Police completely sealed off the Shahbagh entryway, stopping all vehicles from entering Dhaka University through the point.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) urged curious onlookers not to gather unnecessarily at different entry points as vote counting was underway following the completion of polling.
Earlier this evening, groups of people gathered around the TSC area of Dhaka University and Shahbagh this evening (9 September) as vote counting was underway.
At around 10pm, police, BGB, and RAB were seen on alert at the Nilkhet intersection.
Around 1,000 people gathered at Shahbagh on Tuesday evening. By 9pm, another large procession joined them.
According to our correspondent at the scene, the crowd was not assembled under any single banner but included activists from the BNP, Jamaat, NCP, Gono Forum, Islami Andolon, among others.
They appeared to be waiting for the results of the Ducsu election to be announced.
Around 6:30pm, a crowd of 200-300 people was seen at Banglamotor intersection.
Similar gatherings were also reported near Mazar Gate and Nilkhet areas.
Asked about the situation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Ramna division Deputy Commissioner Md Masud Alam said, "We have heard about crowds forming around the campus but cannot confirm their identity.
"However, police are on alert and adequate security has been deployed. No outsiders will be allowed to enter and create unrest."
Meanwhile, around 7pm, Tariqul Islam, convener of National Citizen Party's youth wing Jatiya Jubo Shakti, posted a video on social media claiming that a procession of BNP and its youth wing Jubo Dal was heading towards the DU campus from Banglamotor.
He also alleged that activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir had assembled near Shahbagh, High Court Mazar Gate, and Nilkhet, warning of the possibility of clashes.
Earlier in the day, Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib accused activists of Jamaat and Shibir of gathering around the campus during voting.
