Student wings of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami agree to peaceful coexistence at Government Madras-e-Alia Dhaka dormitory following mediated talks
Photo Collected
Student wings of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami have reached a formal agreement to ensure peaceful coexistence at the residential halls of Government Madrasah-e-Alia in Old Dhaka. The consensus, brokered by the institution’s administration, allowed activists from the Islami Chhatra Shibir to return to the dormitory on Monday afternoon.
The agreement follows a violent confrontation between the student organizations that occurred on August 4. The clashes, which began following a dispute over programs marking the second anniversary of the July uprising, originated at Jagannath University and spread to the vicinity of the Madrasah-e-Alia. Following the unrest, Shibir activists vacated the premises, and Chhatra Dal members subsequently locked the dormitory gates. Tensions remained high until Sunday, when police intervened to prevent Shibir members from re-entering the hall.
To resolve the impasse, the Madrasah administration convened a high-level meeting on Sunday evening involving leaders from both student groups. The meeting was attended by the Principal and Vice Principal of the Madrasah, alongside Dhaka-7 lawmaker Hamidur Rahman Hamid and Dhaka-5 lawmaker Kamal Hossain.
Delegations representing Chhatra Dal and Shibir, including Shibir’s Central Publicity Secretary S.M. Farhad and Dhaka Metropolitan East Branch President Imdadul Haque Miyazi, pledged to maintain a peaceful environment and refrain from activities that disrupt the educational atmosphere.
Sad Chowdhury, a leader of the Chhatra Dal’s Madrasah-e-Alia unit, stated that both parties addressed their grievances during the meeting. He acknowledged that looting had occurred during the conflict but emphasized that both factions are now focused on a mediated seat distribution process. According to Chowdhury, the administration will hold separate discussions with each organization to finalize hall allocations.
Under the supervision of campus authorities and police, Shibir activists began moving back into the dormitory on Monday afternoon. Access is currently being prioritized for students holding valid hall cards or those with pending applications.
Daud Khan, Publicity and Media Secretary for the Shibir’s Dhaka Metropolitan East branch, expressed optimism regarding the future of the campus environment. He stated that the groups have committed to building a healthy academic setting rather than dwelling on past conflicts. Shibir has presented an 11-point demand to the administration, insisting that hall seats be allocated strictly based on merit. Further discussions between the student groups and faculty members are expected to take place in the coming days to finalize the seating arrangements.
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