Witnesses said the protests began around 7 am when scores of university students blocked traffic on the busy Barishal-Patuakhali highway, demanding immediate action against the perpetrators of Tuesday's attack that left 11 scholars injured.

On Tuesday, two students of the university were allegedly manhandled by few staffers of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) at BRTC bus counter in the Rupatoli area of the city.

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In protest, some students of the university blocked the bus terminal for two hours. They dispersed only after police arrested one BRTC employee, identified as Rafique, in connection with the attack.

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In retaliation, the transport workers armed with sticks barged into a university hostel and attacked a student, identified as Mahmudul Hasan Tomal, on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.

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As the news of the attack spread, thanks to social media, students from other hostels of the university rushed to the spot to save Tomal. The transport workers attacked Tomal's rescuers too, leaving 11 injured.

The injured students -- Nurullah Siddique, SM Sohanur Rahman, Ahsanuzzaman, Fazlul Haque, Alim Salehi, Ali Hasan, Rajon Hossain, Mahbubur Rahman, Mahadi Hasan Imon, Miraz Hawladar and Sajeeb Sheikh -- are being treated at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital.

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Dr Subrata Kumar Das, proctor of Barishal University, said that as soon they got the information of the attack, senior officials rushed to the spot and subsequently ensured proper treatment to the injured.