A chase and counter-chase took place between law enforcement agencies and protesting technical education students in Sylhet on Tuesday as demonstrations continued over quota reform demands.

The students are demanding reforms to a proposed 33 percent quota and the cancellation of what they describe as a discriminatory inter-ministerial committee. The incident occurred around noon, according to witnesses.

Protesters claimed that at least 20 people, including students and teachers, were injured during the clashes. Some of the injured received first aid at Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, while others were admitted to nearby hospitals, they said.

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According to eyewitnesses, Diploma Engineering students began their protest by blocking roads in the Chowhatta area of Sylhet city around 12pm. After demonstrating for more than half an hour, most of the protesters moved to the nearby Shaheed Minar, though some remained on the road.

Later, an army team arrived at the scene and asked the students to clear the road. Tensions rose as arguments broke out, after which police and army personnel jointly removed the protesters from the area. Several rounds of chase and counter-chase followed between police and demonstrators.

Students alleged that several protesters were injured during the operation. However, police denied any injuries.

Sylhet Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mainul Zakir said the situation is now calm. “We persuaded the students to disperse peacefully. No one was injured,” he said.

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The protesters said they are opposing a proposed 33 percent quota for BCS engineers in posts of sub-assistant engineers and equivalent positions. They claimed the move is discriminatory against diploma engineers, who they say have long been deprived of fair job opportunities and promotions.

They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed quota and related decisions, warning that their movement would continue until their demands are met.