Gaibandha town has been gripped by tension as a result of the ongoing demands for quota reforms and protests against the killing of students.

The protesters attacked the district Awami League party office in Gaibandha around 12:30pm on Wednesday.

They also beat up and injured 10-11 leaders and activists, including Abu Bakar Siddique, the president of the district AL and chairman of the district council.

Later, a group of people attacked, vandalised, and set fire to the district BNP office at 1:30pm.

All the furniture in the party office was burnt.

Fire service personnel arrived later and brought the fire under control.

No casualties were reported as no one was present in the party office at the time.

According to police and witnesses, students from the educational institutions in the district town gathered at the municipal park from the morning.

At 11am, a protest march started from there, traversing various roads in the town before returning to the municipal park.

The protesters then occupied the railway gate No.1 area, blocking both road and rail traffic, halting all vehicular movement.

Police attempted to disperse them, but the protesters became agitated and targeted police with brickbats, resulting in a clash.

After an hour-long blockade, the protesters went to the district AL office near the railway gate and attacked it.

They vandalised and set fire to five or six motorcycles parked in front of the party office.

They then entered the office and vandalised the furniture, injuring leaders and activists.

Police arrived and used tear gas to bring the situation under control.

Among the injured were Matlubur Rahman, joint general secretary of the district AL and mayor of the municipality; Mridul Mostafiz Jhantu, general secretary of the Sadar Upazila AL; and Kamal Ahmed Babu, former convener of the municipal Chhatra League.

"We were having a meeting with party leaders and activists in the party office when the protesting students suddenly entered and attacked,” said Mridul.

“They vandalised several motorcycles."

"We were in the party office when leaders and activists of the BNP-Jamaat-Shibir joined the protesting students and attacked us," said Babu.

Gaibandha District BNP President Moinul Hasan Sadiq, condemned the attack on the AL office and blamed the AL for the attack on the BNP office.

"Chhatra Dal marched in the town in support of the quota reform movement. They marched from 11:30am to 12:30pm and then left,” said Moinul.

“Later, some Chhatra League members came and attacked and vandalised our party office.”

“A while later, around 1:30pm, another group arrived and set fire to office furniture,”he added.

The district BNP president said, "We strongly condemn and protest the attack on the Awami League office. We do not support such actions. However, we support the quota reform movement."

"Police tried to ensure the protest ended peacefully, but the protesters threw brickbats at police," said Masud Rana, chief of Gaibandha Sadar Police Station.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al Mamun and 15-20 other police members, including him, were injured, he said.

The injured received first aid, and several severely injured officers were hospitalised, he added.

Claiming the situation is under control, the district's Superintendent of Police Md Kamal Hossain said: "The students threw brickbats at police from their protest rally. Besides, there was an attack and vandalism at the Awami League office.”

“We will investigate those involved in these incidents and take appropriate action."