Students of Tejgaon College blocked the Farmgate intersection on Thursday, demanding justice for 18-year-old Sakibul Hasan Rana, who died from injuries sustained during a clash between two factions of Chhatra Dal inside the college dormitory on 6 December.
The demonstration began around 10am in front of the college’s main gate. Within 20 minutes, several hundred students marched to the Farmgate intersection, where they set tyres on fire and chanted slogans. The protest was organised under the banner of “General Students of Tejgaon College.” Their placards read: “Protest rally and human chain against the terrorist attack on students inside Tejgaon College dormitory” and “Justice for Sakib’s murder.”
Mahbib Hasan, a first-year student, told Times of Bangladesh, “Our elder brother was killed due to political conflict centring drug abuse. An incident like this is unacceptable in a healthy academic environment. We demand proper justice.”
Md Alamin Talukdar, a student from the 2018–19 session and former coordinator of the July Mass Uprising on the campus, said, “A certain group on campus is engaging in muscle politics similar to the Chhatra League. We want to give a red card to such politics.”
Protesters alleged that the college authorities were attempting to cover up the killing, which they said stemmed from entrenched political infighting within the dormitory. They claimed the incident reflected a longstanding culture of clashes and intimidation among rival factions.
After more than two hours of blockade, students withdrew from the intersection around 12:30pm, following police requests and to join the absentee funeral prayer for Sakibul on campus. Traffic gradually resumed afterward. The blockade caused severe congestion in and around Farmgate throughout the morning, leaving commuters stranded.
Fahima, who was travelling from Postogola to Mirpur, said, “I was with my child and mother-in-law when the bus stopped. The helper said the road was closed, so we got off and walked from Karwan Bazar. It’s difficult to walk with a small child.”
Police officer Jewel, positioned at the Farmgate intersection, said, “We have spoken with the protesters. They have returned to campus. The situation is under control, and traffic is normal.”
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monirul Islam confirmed that a case has been filed over the death.
On the night of 6 December, repeated clashes broke out between two groups of Chhatra Dal, BNP’s student wing, at the Tejgaon College dormitory, leaving three students critically injured. They are, Sakibul Hasan Rana (Science, 2024–25) and Hridoy Ahmed (Humanities, 2024–25), and Ideal College student Jannat (Humanities, 2025–26).
They were first taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital. As Sakibul’s condition deteriorated, he was transferred to a private hospital in Malibagh, where he died in the ICU on Wednesday.
