From RU to Dhaka Alia: will the tensions ever stop?
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Public university campuses across the country are once again tense amid political violence. The campuses have not witnessed such a volatile situation in the two years since the political change on August 5, 2024. At least 99 people, including journalists, have been injured in clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir in just two days. The bloody clashes began Monday at Begum Rokeya University and, as of the writing of this report, have stopped at the Dhaka Alia Madrasa campus. However, political analysts fear that the tensions could escalate further.
At Rajshahi University, controversy began over images of several people convicted in war crimes cases displayed on a billboard along Paris Road. Following intense controversy, criticism and protests by students, the university administration announced that it had decided to remove the images. Over the same issue, clashes took place between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir activists at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur. The clash began around 7:30 pm Monday and continued for about three hours. The entire campus became tense as a result.
According to an Agamir Somoy report, at least 20 people were injured at Begum Rokeya University in the incident. The background of the incident was the same. Chhatra Dal activists objected to images of convicted war criminals Delawar Hossain Sayeedi, Mir Quasem Ali, Motiur Rahman Nizami, Abdul Quader Molla, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who were convicted in cases of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War at the International Crimes Tribunal. The image of former BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was also among them. However, Chhatra Shibir said it would not remove the images under any circumstances. An argument then broke out between the two sides. At one point, tensions escalated and the two sides became involved in a clash.
The billboard at Rajshahi University also displayed images of Delawar Hossain Sayeedi, Mir Quasem Ali, Motiur Rahman Nizami, Abdul Quader Molla, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury. Left leaning student organizations and general students objected to the images. After continuing their protest until night, they went to the proctor’s office and held a meeting with the university administration. Later, after discussions with the two pro vice chancellors, the administration decided to remove the controversial images from the billboard. Following assurances from the administration, the protesters announced the suspension of their program. However, there was no clash or casualty here.
The tension carried over into Tuesday. In the morning, a scuffle and physical altercation broke out between Chhatra Dal and the leaders of JnUCSU and Shibir during a meeting organized at Jagannath University to mark the second anniversary of July. The incident began when students were prevented from entering the auditorium with placards carrying their demands. Later, after the event, activists of the Jagannath University unit of Chhatra Dal attacked leaders of JnUCSU and Chhatra Shakti. At least 50 people, including activists of three student organizations and journalists, were injured.
The attack took place in front of the university’s Shaheed Minar around noon. The incident began around 11 am over entry to the seminar. According to eyewitnesses, the placards highlighted demands including the swift handover of work on the university’s second campus to the Army, construction of temporary halls using the allocated Tk 20 crore, and the provision of adequate laboratory facilities, technicians and doctors at the medical center, with the aim of drawing the attention of the University Grants Commission chairman. Some members of Inquilab Mancha were also present at the time.
JnUCSU Vice President, General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary were among those seriously injured in the attack, along with JnU Chhatra Shakti President Shahin Mia, Secretary Ferdous Sheikh and JnU Chhatra Front’s Evan Tahshiv.
Following the incident at Jagannath University, Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Dal faced off at Gallery No. 2 of Dhaka College around 1 pm At least 20 Shibir activists and seven Chhatra Dal activists were injured in attacks by both sides. According to eyewitnesses, the college unit of Chhatra Shibir had organized a discussion meeting at Gallery No. 2 to mark the second anniversary of the July Uprising, as announced earlier. Chhatra Dal activists launched a sudden attack while the banner for the program was being hung.
Abdul Malek, office secretary of the college unit of Chhatra Shibir, was injured in the attack. He was admitted to Popular Medical College Hospital. After sensing the presence of Shibir activists in Nilkhet, Chhatra Dal activists chased them with sticks.
Finally, around 4 pm Tuesday, repeated chases and counter chases and clashes took place between Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists at the Government Alia Madrasa campus. Two Chhatra Dal leaders were injured. The clash began in front of National Medical inside the campus. The injured are Sanuallah (30), former senior joint convener of the Government Alia Madrasa unit of Chhatra Dal, and Nichar Uddin Rabbi (27), member secretary of Lalbagh Thana Chhatra Dal and joint general secretary of Dhaka South City Chhatra Dal. They are currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Eyewitnesses and hospital sources said Sanuallah and Rabbi were standing and talking inside the madrasa campus in the afternoon. At that time, 30 to 40 Shibir activists suddenly attacked them with rods, sticks and bricks. Both suffered bloody injuries. Later, other students on the campus rescued them and took them to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 4:30 pm.
