New Market to reopen today

New Market, one of the busiest commercial areas of the capital, was closed for two days due to clashes between students and businessmen. Dhaka Education Board Director General Nehal Ahmed said the shopping malls in New Market would be reopened on Thursday (April 21) morning on the basis of mutual agreement.

He made the decision after a late-night meeting on Wednesday. At the same time, the fair demands of the students have been accepted, said Nehal Ahmed. The meeting was attended by leaders of New Market Shop Owners Association and Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, teachers of Dhaka College and representatives of law enforcement agencies.

The meeting was held in the meeting room of Bangladesh Science and Industry Research Council (Science Laboratory) next to Dhaka College. Dhaka Education Board Director General Nehal Ahmed presided over the function. He told reporters that all the shops in and around New Market would be opened from Thursday morning. And the college authorities will decide about the students' leave and stay in the hall.

Regarding the 10 point demands of the students, he said, "We have full respect for the demands of the students." Almost all their demands are logical. The traders have complied with their demands. A monitoring cell will be formed soon in response to the demands of the students.

He said two days of clashes had resulted in many casualties, including one death. The business delegation will meet the families of the injured and the victims. At the same time, they will be given financial assistance.

DB Joint Commissioner Mahabub Alam was present at the meeting. Regarding the allegations made by the students against the law enforcement agencies, he said that the incident of clashes between the students and the businessmen at Dhaka College is really sad. Many were injured and one was killed in the clashes. Several of our policemen were also injured to bring the situation under control.

He said that many logical demands of the students have come up in today's meeting. We have tried to solve them. The allegations made by the students against the police force will be investigated. Action will be taken according to the results of the investigation.

Nehal Ahmed claimed that there was a third party instigator behind the clash between the students and the shopkeepers.