At least 15 people were injured in a clash between activists of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Jagannath University. After the injured were taken to National Medical College Hospital, another round of chasing, counter-chasing, and brick throwing took place between the two groups. Additional police have been deployed at the hospital and nearby areas to bring the situation under control.
The clash broke out on Tuesday afternoon over a programme arranged around the visit of the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman to the university.
Witnesses said tensions rose when the UGC chairman arrived at the university’s central auditorium around 11:45am to attend the event. Later, as the clash broke out, Chhatra Dal activists forced Shibir members to leave the campus. They then staged a sit-in protest.
Around 2pm, activists from different units of Chhatra Shibir gathered at National Medical College Hospital. Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal activists took position outside the hospital’s main gate and continued chanting slogans.
At one point, a chase and counter-chase began after Shibir activists moved toward the Chhatra Dal members. Shibir activists then entered the hospital premises, where the two groups exchanged brickbats. Witnesses said some people were also seen carrying locally made weapons.
Additional police were deployed inside and outside the hospital following the incident.
Sutrapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Matiur Rahman said the two groups had clashed at the university before injured people were admitted to National Medical College Hospital, where another round of clashes occurred. Police were working to restore calm, he added.
Assistant Commissioner Fazlul Haque of the Kotwali Zone under Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Lalbagh Division said the incident began after discussions were sought with the UGC chairman over various demands. He said the situation escalated into brick throwing after tensions grew between Shibir and Chhatra Dal activists.
Jagannath University Chhatra Dal Member Secretary Shamsul Arefin claimed that a programme was arranged to discuss students’ demands, including accommodation issues, with the UGC chairman. He alleged that a group attempted to obstruct the programme.
Meanwhile, Jagannath University Chhatra Shibir President Abdul Alim Arif, who was receiving treatment at the hospital, alleged that Chhatra Dal activists attacked Shibir and other student organisation members.
He claimed that the attack took place while they were raising demands for permanent accommodation for students.
The clash at the hospital also sparked panic among patients and their relatives. A relative named Jamal Hossain said he had come to the hospital for treatment of his sister-in-law’s daughter and became frightened after seeing the clash taking place downstairs. He said they were trapped inside for some time before leaving.
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