DHAKA, Feb 6, 2026: Protests in the capital took a violent turn on Friday afternoon as activists from the Inqilab Mancha clashed with police while attempting to march toward "Jamuna," the official residence of the Chief Adviser. The group’s member secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, was among several individuals rushed to the hospital following the confrontation.
Escalation at InterContinental Intersection
The incident occurred around 3:50 PM near the Hotel InterContinental. Members of Inqilab Mancha had gathered to demand a UN-led investigation into the death of Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
According to witnesses, the situation escalated when demonstrators attempted to breach police barricades to reach the Chief Adviser’s residence. Law enforcement responded with:
# Water cannons
# Tear gas
# Sound grenades
In response, some protesters reportedly threw brickbats at the police. The chaos resulted in multiple injuries, with victims suffering from the effects of tear gas and splinters from sound grenades.
Conflicting Reports on Injuries
While social media posts from the organization claimed that Abdullah Al Jaber had been "shot," medical authorities provided a different account.
Md. Faruk, the Inspector in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, confirmed that while Jaber and two others were receiving treatment, none of them sustained gunshot wounds.
Witnesses at the scene estimated that approximately 20 people were taken to various medical facilities for treatment following the scuffle. Other high-profile student leaders reported at the scene included:
# Fatema Tasnim Juma (DUCSU)
# Shanta Akter (JCSU)
# Salahuddin Ammar (RUCSU)
Context of the Unrest
The Inqilab Mancha had been holding a sit-in since Thursday evening. Their protest coincided with a separate demonstration by government employees seeking the implementation of the 9th Pay Scale.
Earlier in the day, police had already moved to disperse the pay scale protesters, creating a high-pressure environment around the high-security zone.
Following the afternoon clash, Inqilab Mancha activists retreated toward Shahbagh. The organization later used social media to call for a mass gathering at the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University to protest the police action.
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