A commotion broke out between activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and members of the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall Sangsad at Dhaka University (DU) on Tuesday night following a dispute over the removal of a banner.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:45pm at the main entrance of the hall.
The conflict reportedly began when a banner was placed by the Mohsin Hall Sangsad demanding punishment for Sazzad Hossain Robin, the joint convenor of JCD hall unit.
The banner alleged that Robin had burst the eardrum of Julhash, the Hall Sangsad cultural secretary, inside the Shahbagh Police Station. Hall Sangsad leaders claimed that JCD activists had torn down the banner on Monday night and attempted to do so again on Tuesday.
Following the incident, members of the Hall Sangsad and JCD took up opposing positions in front of the hall, with both sides accusing the other of instigating the trouble.
Shadik Hossain Shikdar, the vice-president (VP) of Mohsin Hall Sangsad, alleged that Hall JCD activists attacked Hall Sangsad leaders when they attempted to prevent the banner from being torn.
He added that a residential student from the 2023-24 academic session was injured during the confrontation.
In contrast, Abuzar Gifari Ifat, the convenor of Mohsin Hall JCD, said they were removing the banner because it levelled baseless allegations against a member.
He explained that while they were removing the banner, members of the Hall Sangsad and Islami Chhatra Shibir snatched it from them, leading to the standoff.
Ifat denied that any physical scuffle or altercation took place, further claiming that the opposing group had planned an incident by bringing eight to ten banners to replace any that were removed.
