In the first week of June, the High Court declared the decision to cancel the quota in government jobs invalid. The day after the verdict, the students started protesting against it. In July, the protests escalated.
At one point, the entire country including the capital came to a standstill. Jatrabari-Sanir Akhara is one of the areas where there are more conflicts in Dhaka, there are many casualties. Two toll plazas on Jatrabari Kajla side of Hanif flyover were burnt down.
The common people of that area were housebound for a whole week due to fear. The situation started to normalize after the deployment of the army on Friday night. But there is still fear among people. There are traces of destruction.
On the surface, we visited Jatrabari, Kajla and Shanir Akhara areas and talked to people of different classes and professions in these areas.
Talked to a local seller in Shani Akhara. He said, I opened the shop after 7/8 days. I did not leave the house in fear of the sound of gunshots. I spent the day very hard. Still at 5 o’clock the police asked to close the shop. We want to do business without fear.
Rubel Hossain, a security guard of a private bank in the same area, said, “I can’t explain the fear I spent for a few days. Seeing the abnormal situation, I did not go down for a moment on July 19 and 20.” I spent the day very hard. Still afraid of violence. But due to the presence of the army, the fear is disappearing. He said that the army has treated the common people very well.
