Clashes have occurred between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists on the campuses of three educational institutions in the capital. Chasing, beating and tension arose over various programs organized on the occasion of the second anniversary of the July mass uprising on the campuses of Jagannath University, Dhaka College and Dhaka Alia Madrasa.

Several leaders and activists from both sides were injured in these incidents that took place from the morning to the afternoon of Tuesday (August 4).

Meanwhile, around 4:45 pm on Tuesday, allegations have been made against BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists from the metropolitan south of Dhaka who were undergoing treatment for injuries in these incidents. It has been alleged that the attack took place after Chhatra Dal leaders and activists from Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Suhrawardy College branches took out a joint procession.

Earlier, on Monday (August 3), there were allegations that Chhatra Dal leaders attacked Shibir leaders and activists at the ‘July Against Oppression’ exhibition at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur. Later, there was a clash between them.

Jagannath University

The first tension arose at Jagannath University on Tuesday morning. The leaders and activists of Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JUKSU) and National Student Power clashed with Chhatra Dal and activists over entering a seminar to mark the second anniversary of the July Uprising organized by the university, and later a fight broke out with the leaders and activists of Chhatra Shibir.

Eyewitnesses said that when JUKSU and Chhatra Shakti leaders and activists tried to enter the seminar held at the university’s central auditorium with placards containing various demands, they started arguing and pushing with Chhatra Dal leaders and activists. Later, after the seminar, clashes broke out again between the two sides in front of Shaheed Minar.

At that time, some leaders and activists of JACSU and Chhatra Shakti were injured and received treatment at the National Medical Institute Hospital in Old Dhaka. On the other hand, Chhatra Dal claimed that some leaders and activists were injured.

JACSU VP and Shibir leader Riazul Islam said, “The proctorial team prevented the students from entering. Later, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists attacked and beat up the students and JACSU members. At that time, when I went to save the students, they tore my clothes and dragged me out of the campus.”

Shahin Mia, president of the Jagannath University branch of National Chhatra Shakti, alleged that after the seminar, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists attacked them and severely beat up JACSU VP, GS, AGS and Chhatra Shakti general secretary Ferdous Sheikh.

Meanwhile, University Chhatra Dal convener Mehedi Hasan Himel said that the situation deteriorated when Chhatra Shibir and its affiliated organizations tried to create chaos around the event organized in the presence of the UGC chairman. Several Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were also injured in this.

Dhaka College

On Tuesday, around 12:30 pm, there was a chase and clash between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists on the Dhaka College campus. Later, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists took out a procession on the campus.

Chhatra Shibir claimed that Chhatra Dal leaders and activists attacked them while they were preparing for a reception ceremony for the family members of the martyrs at Gallery-2 on the occasion of the anniversary of the July Uprising. Several Shibir leaders and activists were injured in this. Among the injured, branch office secretary Abdul Malek was admitted to the hospital with a head injury.

On the other hand, Dhaka College Chhatra Dal claimed that Shibir’s outside leaders and activists gathered on the campus in the morning and behaved provocatively. The organization said the clash started after a Chhatra Dal activist was beaten up.

Dhaka College branch Chhatra Dal member secretary Millad Hossain said, “The camp attempted a well-planned attack. They have taken a stand for the safety of the students.”

After the incident, when Chhatra Dal leaders and activists started a procession in front of the main gate of Dhaka College and took positions at various points on the campus, the college administration and law enforcement forces took positions to control the situation.

Dhaka Alia Madrasa

A clash broke out between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists at the Dhaka Alia Madrasa campus in Bakshibazar in the capital in the afternoon. The clash broke out during a chase and counter-chase between the two sides. Several people from both sides were injured in the incident. The two injured Chhatra Dal leaders are undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College.

The injured students are Sanaullah (30), former senior joint convener of the madrasa’s Chhatra Dal, and Lalbagh Thana Chhatra Dal member secretary and Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatra Dal joint general secretary Nisar Uddin Rabbi (27).

The injured students complained that they were not students of the madrasa. However, they have many friends there. They were sitting and chatting with them in the madrasa premises in the afternoon. That’s when Shibir leaders and activists ambushed them. They beat them with sticks and threw bricks.

Doctors at the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital said that Sanaullah has injury marks on both legs and back, including various parts of his body. In addition, Rabbi was hit by a brick on his left leg and injured in a fall on his left hand. They were treated in the emergency department.

The madrasa authorities said that additional police have been deployed on the campus after the incident. Law enforcement is working to control the situation.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the clash between Chhatra Dal, Shibir, and Chhatra Shakti at Jagannath University, leaders and activists of BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal’s Mahanagar South have again attacked Shibir and Chhatra Shakti leaders undergoing treatment at the emergency department of the National Medical.

On Tuesday, around 4:45 pm, they entered the hospital. They beat up leaders and activists who were undergoing treatment outside the hospital and in the emergency department. They brought one person out from inside the emergency department and beat him up. It is learnt that leaders and activists of Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Suhrawardy College branches of Chhatra Dal participated in the incident.

Law enforcement said that the situation is being monitored. They have said that they will take necessary legal action on these issues.

Begum Rokeya University

Earlier on Monday (August 3), there were allegations of Chhatra Dal leaders attacking Shibir leaders and activists at the ‘July Against Oppression’ exhibition at Begum Rokeya University (Berobi) in Rangpur on the occasion of the July Uprising. Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists have counter-alleged that Chhatra Dal was attacked earlier.

At around 8 pm, Chhatra Dal and Shibir started chasing each other at the Independence Memorial Ground. The clash is ongoing till the time of writing.

Eyewitnesses said that at the ‘July Against Oppression’ exhibition, leaders and activists of Berobi branch of Chhatra Dal went to the ‘July Against Oppression’ exhibition and asked them to remove the banner saying ‘Jamaat leaders and Saka Chowdhury are victims of judicial murder on charges of war crimes’. Later, at one point during the argument, the attack started counter-attacking. Later, Chhatra Dal members broke tree branches and attacked each other with Shibir chairs.

At that time, Shibir leader Mehedi Hasan was injured when he was hit by a stamp from the branch Chhatra Dal. On the other hand, Chhatra Dal Vice President Ashikur Rahman was injured in the attack by Shibir. Apart from this, several others from both the parties were reported to have been injured.

In this regard, the university’s proctor Dr. Ferdous Rahman said, “We will identify those involved in this fight after looking at the video footage and bring them to justice very soon. We believe that the banned Chhatra League is behind this.”