Uttara residents still in panic and fear

Residents of the capital's Uttara are still living in fear and panic although two days have passed since the incidence of clashes and vandalism following nationwide complete shutdown called by quota reform protesters.

The signs of violence are still present, reminding the people living there of the horror that had engulfed the place for the last few days.

On Alaol Avenue in Uttara, a house was damaged extensively. At least six private cars parked on the ground floor of the building were vandalised, along with the main gate and the window panes of the flats.

The incident happened when rumour spread about a protester getting shot from this building. 

Assistant manager of the house Nurul Islam recalled the violence that was unleashed there, saying, "A group of men tried to get into the building but was persuaded and returned, but later another group of 30-40 men broke the main gate of the building and vandalised whatever they could get their hands on."

"At least two security guards of the building were taken away by the mob, who have not returned yet," alleged Nurul. 

Not only Alaol Avenue but Uttara Sector-4, Shahjalal Avenue, Joynal Market, Azampur, House Building and Rajlakkhi Complex were also affected by the violence.

When TBS correspondent visited the rail tracks in Joynal Market area yesterday, he saw signs of arson everywhere, while police vehicle patrolled the area.

Lokman Khan, a fruit seller at Joynal market area, said, "The situation turned extreme since Thursday. Shots were being fired since the morning, and at least five protesters died and 10-12 others were injured during this time. 

"I have seen the dead bodies myself. Among the dead was a child. Although the market was left unharmed, the residential buildings in the area were damaged."

Lozzoti Begum sells betel leaves and cigarettes in Azampur area. Due to the protests, her little roadside shop beside BNS Center had been closed since Wednesday afternoon. Still, she went there every day to see what had been happening.

According to her, at least three people were dead during clashes on the Azampur-Joynal Market Road on Saturday morning. The dead bodies were lying on the street, and her shop was also vandalised during the violence. Now she is thinking of taking loans from someone and restarting her business at some other place. 

Md Belal, a cigarette seller at Azampur, said, "The situation began to worsen since Thursday morning. Not being able to remain on the main road, the protesters took positions in nearby alleys. 

"Gunshots were ringing in the air since the morning, and sporadic clashes were going on from Azampur to House Building intersections. I had heard that a woman and her infant child had died, but I'm not sure."

Rashedul Islam owns Medicine Mart, a pharmacy on the ground floor of BNS Center at House Building area. Although he had opened his shop on Thursday morning, he soon shut it down when the situation in the area got tense.

According to him, hundreds of shops in the area had been closed since Tuesday except two pharmacies. "At least a million taka will be needed to repair the shops, and the exact amount of losses would be measured once the shop owners hold a meeting," he said. 

A security guard of Amir Complex said, "Protesters started to gather at Azampur intersection since Thursday morning. We shut the main gate of our building when the violence started, and one of the security guards was hit on his throat from shots fired by police to disperse the crowd. 

"The mayhem continued till evening on that day."

Many other people, including a security guard of Rajlakkhi Complex, a manager of a pharmacy, and a member of community police at Sector-4, described the same scenario, expressing panic at the violence witnessed by them.

According to their accounts, shopping complexes and residential buildings were damaged the most, with their gates, windows, air conditioners and signboards falling prey to violence. 

Yesterday, TBS correspondent visited the Kuwait-Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital in Uttara to inquire about the dead and the injured, but the doctors and the nurses working there did not provide any comment.

A staff of the hospital said, "I have seen some dead bodies arriving at our hospital. As we did not have a permanent morgue, we had to send some of the bodies to Suhrawardy Hospital, while some others were claimed by their relatives."

"There wasn't any space here for the last few days. I have seen two to three dead bodies arriving at the emergency room. Doctors and nurses had to work from early morning till late night to tackle the situation," said an Ansar member stationed at the emergency room of the hospital.

At the House Building intersection, fire engulfed the escalator on the Dhaka-Gazipur lane of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) flyover. A double-decker bus of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTC) was seen lying there, completely charred.