Police took up positions outside National Medical Institute Hospital in Old Dhaka on Tuesday evening after injured student leaders were allegedly attacked while undergoing treatment following the Jagannath University (JnU) clashes.
According to eyewitnesses, leaders and activists of BNP, Jubo Dal and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) entered the hospital around 4:45pm and allegedly assaulted injured leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti who were undergoing treatment in the emergency department.
Witnesses said several injured students were beaten inside and outside the emergency unit, while one patient was allegedly dragged out of the emergency department and assaulted.
Following the incident, police took up positions outside the hospital as tension spread across the area.
Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Robiul Islam said the situation had remained calm by the evening.
“Those who were receiving treatment have been shifted to other hospitals. Police are on alert as activists of JCD, Jubo Dal and BNP are gathered around Kabi Nazrul Government College and Jagannath University,” he said.
JnU forms probe committee
Earlier in the day, Jagannath University authorities formed a four-member committee to investigate the clashes that erupted on campus during a programme marking the July Mass Uprising Day.
The committee is headed by Prof Mostafa Hasan, chairman of the Department of Social Work, with Deputy Registrar Md Shahidullah serving as member secretary. Prof Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman of the Department of Chemistry and Associate Professor Mezbah-ul-Azam Saudagar of the Department of Political Science are the other members.
The committee was constituted through a notice signed by Acting Registrar Prof Md Sheikh Gias Uddin.
VC urges restraint
Addressing an emergency press briefing, JnU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Rais Uddin urged all parties to remain calm and allow the investigation to proceed.
He said the university administration had held several coordination meetings with student organisations and stakeholders before the programme to ensure it was conducted peacefully.
The vice-chancellor said University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Mamun Ahmed attended the event as chief guest in recognition of the commission’s continued support for the university’s academic and infrastructure development.
“Everyone was expected to act responsibly on such an important occasion, but the clash disrupted the entire programme,” he said.
Prof Rais Uddin said he personally tried to calm the situation after leaving the seminar venue, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
He said the university would take action against anyone found responsible for the violence, regardless of political affiliation, after the investigation is completed.
The committee has been asked to identify those involved, determine the causes of the clashes and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
More than 50 people, including student leaders and journalists, were reportedly injured after clashes broke out at Jagannath University on Tuesday when a group of Islami Chhatra Shibir activists tried to enter a university programme carrying placards with campus-related demands.
The incident occurred around 11:30am at the university’s central auditorium during a documentary screening attended by the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Dhaka College clash leaves several injured
Meanwhile, a separate clash broke out between activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka College, leaving several people injured, police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Division Sheikh Zahidul Islam said the incident occurred inside the college campus.
He said police rushed to the scene after receiving information, adding that law enforcers do not maintain a permanent presence inside the campus.
