Tensions over the occupation of hall seats and the establishment of dominance led to a violent clash between activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Chhatra Shibir at Government Alia Madrasa in Bakhshibazar on Tuesday.
According to campus sources, the atmosphere had been volatile since the morning, eventually escalating into a chase and counter-chase that left seven people, including the madrasa principal, injured.
The confrontation began at approximately 4pm near National Medical inside the madrasa complex. Witnesses reported that while Sanaullah and Nisar Uddin Rabbi were conversing on campus, a group of 30 to 40 Shibir activists launched an unprovoked attack using iron rods, sticks, and bricks.
Sanaullah, the former senior joint convener of Madrasa branch Chhatra Dal, sustained injuries to his back and both legs from rods and sticks, while Rabbi, member secretary of Lalbagh Thana Chhatra Dal and joint general secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatra Dal, suffered a serious leg injury from a brick.
Rabbi said he was visiting friends at the time and is not a student of the madrasa.
The violence resulted in injuries to Madrasa Principal Mahmud Obaidul Haque, who was struck in the head by a brick.
Others receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) include Dhaka South Chhatra Dal President Shamim Mahmud, Samakal multimedia journalist Nazmul Islam, who was hit in the leg by a brick, and Jane Alam, the convener of Lalbagh Ward No. 26 Jubo Dal.
Rubel Hossain Momin, the former organisational secretary of Madrasa branch Chhatra Dal, was also injured, alongside Raisul Islam, the vice president of Dhaka College branch of Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh, who was assaulted with punches.
The injured were rushed to the DMCH emergency department at approximately 4:30pm by fellow students.
Inspector Md Faruq, the in-charge of the DMCH Police Camp, confirmed that the victims were undergoing treatment and that relevant police station had been informed of the incident.
In the aftermath of the clash, a heavy police presence was deployed to the campus to maintain order and prevent further unrest.
At approximately 5pm, Abdullah Al Mamun, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Chawkbazar Police Station, said police were positioned between the two groups of Chhatra Dal and Shibir. He said while efforts were underway to control the situation, it was not yet fully under control.
Later, at 6:40pm, Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of DMP’s Lalbagh Division, confirmed that the situation was brought under control at approximately 6pm, although he could not specify the exact reason for the clash.
This incident follows a broader wave of campus violence across Dhaka on Tuesday morning.
At Jagannath University, a clash in the central auditorium during a programme involving the UGC chairman left several leaders injured, including the JnUCSU VP, GS, and AGS, as well as the president and secretary of the university’s Chhatra Shakti and representatives from the Chhatra Front.
Similarly, a confrontation at Dhaka College resulted in injuries to 20 Shibir activists and seven members of Chhatra Dal.
