BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday blamed Chhatra League ‘cadres’ for the bloody violence in the city’s New Market area that claimed two lives.  “An unbearable situation has now arisen in the country due to the failure of the government. The recent clashes between the traders and students in the New Market area took place entirely for the failure of the government and the inaction of the police,” he said. Also read: New Market clashes: BNP leader Makbul held  Speaking at an iftar party, he also said police incited the violence instead of tackling the situation. “Later, it has been proved through different media reports that the cadres of Chhatra League were completely involved in this violence.”  Ziaur Rahman Foundation arranged the iftar party at Dhaka Ladies Club in the city’s Eskaton.  Fakhrul alleged that law enforcers are now filing cases against BNP leaders and activists in connection with the violence. “I strongly condemn it and call upon the authorities concerned to immediately withdraw all such cases.”  He also demanded that the government bring the perpetrators to justice through a fair and impartial investigation.  At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles Tuesday following a brawl at a fast food shop on Monday night. Also read: New Market Clashes: BNP questions ‘police inaction’  Later, two injured people—computer accessories delivery man Nahid Hasan and shop employee Morsalin--died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday and early Thursday.  Four cases were filed in connection with the violence while police detectives on Friday arrested former New Market thana BNP President Makbul Hossain in one of the cases on charges of obstructing police in performing duties, assaulting law enforcement officers, and damaging property during the clashes.  Mirza Fakhrul said the current government has turned Bangladesh into a failed state by snatching people’s voting and other rights, hampering the independence of the judiciary and destroying democracy.  He called upon all professionals to build public opinion to save the country, restore democracy and human rights through a united struggle.

The shops and markets of the Dhaka New Market area started reopening from Thursday after two days of continuous closure due to clashes between the traders and students of nearby Dhaka College following a trivial argument. Since the reopening, the situation in the area has been normal. The New Market, Gausia Market, Chandrima Super Market and Nurjahan Market started reopening from 10.00 am and within an hour the markets opened fully. Tamim, one of the shop owners, said, "I collected clothes for the shop on the occasion of Eid only two days ago. But everything has been torched." Traders said they hoped that they would make up for the losses of the Covid-19 pandemic during this year's Eid market. But the clash destroyed all their plans. Read: Those who attacked journalists during New Market clashes to face action: Minister Asked about whether they will be able to recover the loss, Salahuddin, another shop owner, said, “We are counting loss in our business as we have lost two days on this Eid season. But if buyers spontaneously come to this market, I hope, we will be able to recover our loss." New Market Traders’ Association's vice president Ashraf Uddin said a monitoring cell will be set up for market management. Behavioral training will also be given to the owners and employees of each market. "We are helping law enforcement agencies to ensure the punishment to the culprits," he added. Expressing anger, he added that three thousand shops of New Supermarket, seven hundred shops of New Market, 500 shops of Chandrima Super market and more than 400 shops of Gausia Market remained closed during those days which resulted in an immeasurable loss to their business. He estimated that the damage will be worth at least Tk 5-6 crore.

The city commuters endured  untold sufferings on Tuesday due to severe traffic snarls triggered by the clashes between Dhaka college students and traders in the city’s New Market area. Vehicular movement in different parts of the city came to a standstill for hours under the impact of the violence in New Market and adjoining areas. Also read:Those responsible for New Market violence to face action: Home Minister Many commuters were seen standing under the scorching heat as all roads were clogged with vehicles, many turning off the engines.  Over 30 people including journalists and students were injured on Tuesday as students of Dhaka College locked into a series of renewed clashes with traders of New Market at Nilkhet intersection in the city. The whole area turned into a battleground after a fresh clash erupted between them around 10 am as a sequel to a clash Monday midnight, said witnesses. The clashes disrupted vehicular movement from Science Lab to Azimpur and created a long tailback on Mirpur Road and adjacent areas. During a reality check in city’s Science Lab, Russel Square, Asadgate, Bijoysarani, Jahangir Gate, Mohakhali, Kakoli, Badda Progoti Sarani, Kakrail, Mouchak, Malibag, this UNB correspondent saw that a chaotic situation was created in these areas forcing many people to walk on foot to reach their destinations. A couple of ambulances with critical patients were seen stuck up in the jam with relatives pleading for help. Also read:Violent clashes erupt again between Dhaka College students, traders; over 30 hurt Meanwhile, Joint commissioner (Traffic North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP, Abu Saleh Md Raihan, said the pressure of vehicle is also a main reason for traffic jams as many people were heading towards shopping malls. He also said the impact of the clash between Dhaka College students and traders that halted vehicular movement from New Market area to Nilkhet intersection was the main reason behind today’s traffic havoc. The gridlock turned acute in the afternoon after office hours with thousands leaving work places.

Those responsible for violent clashes in New Market area will face action, said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday. “Members of law  enforcement agencies  are working showing their utmost patience during the clashes between the traders and the students. Hopefully the situation will be cooled down in a while,” he said. Also read:Violent clashes erupt again between Dhaka College students, traders; over 30 hurt The minister made these remarks while responding to a question from reporters after a meeting at the Ministry on the overall law and order situation in the country ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, payment of  salaries and allowances of garment workers before Eid and keeping roads and highways safe and jam-free. He said the clash broke from an argument over a trivial matter which was unexpected. Many people including journalists were injured and many students and traders were sent to the hospital for first aid, he said. “Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner and Inspector General of Police have taken immediate steps,” he added.