The ruling Awami League’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League and its youth wing Bangladesh Juba League attacked quota protesters at the Science Laboratory crossing in Bangladesh capital on Dhaka Tuesday.

Hundreds of students of Dhaka College, City College, Ideal College Dhanmondi and Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College blocked the crossing at about 12:00 noon and chanted slogans demanding reform of quota in government jobs in the presence of the police.

The protestors said that several hundred activists of JL and BCL, armed with machetes, iron rods, sticks and guns, attacked them at about 2:00pm. Dozens of protesters were injured in the incident.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police New Market Zone assistant commissioner Refatul Islam said he had heard sounds of gunfire and the police took steps to protect protesting students.

‘We are now on alert,’ he added.