As part of their movement seeking the land formerly housing Dhaka Central Jail for construction of halls of residence, Jagannath University (JnU) students yesterday announced a two-day strike from today after police barred their procession from reaching the Prime Minister's Office.

It was also in protest of a “police attack”, one protestor, Raisul Islam Nayan, told journalists at a press conference in JnU. At least 20 students were injured, some hit by pellets, claimed the demonstrators.

Police denied, saying tear gas canisters and pressurised water were used when the procession of several hundred people reached the capital's Bangshal.

The demonstrators then blocked the road to Sadarghat in Nayabazar, creating huge tailbacks and sufferings in nearby areas, before returning to JnU around 2:00pm.

As part of plans declared on Sunday on getting no response to over three weeks of demonstrations, the agitators first gathered in JnU around 8:30am. Police tried to intercept their procession using barricades in Shakaribazar, Rayshaheb Bazar and Tanti Bazar.

The students allege boarding houses were insecure and the housing problem turned acute for landlords starting to turn down bachelors against the backdrop of extremists being found in such accommodations.

JnU on August 11 wrote to the home ministry seeking the jail land. The Communist Party of Bangladesh in a statement condemned the “police attack”.