Clashes Erupt Between Student Nationalist Party and Islami Chhatrashibir Across Multiple Campuses
Photo Collected
Violent clashes erupted between activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), and the Islami Chhatra Shibir across three major educational institutions in Dhaka on Tuesday. The confrontations, which left more than 50 people injured and triggered widespread instability, represent the most significant surge in hostilities between the two organizations since the July uprising that ousted the Awami League government.
The unrest originated at Jagannath University around midday and quickly cascaded into violent standoffs at Dhaka College and the Government Alia Madrasa. Tensions remained high until nightfall, capping a volatile 48-hour period that included a separate clash between the two groups at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur on Monday.
The landscape of campus politics has shifted dramatically since the fall of the former administration on August 5, 2024. During the Awami League’s tenure, the Bangladesh Chhatra League held hegemony over universities, often violently suppressing JCD and Shibir members. Following the recent change in government, Shibir has seen a resurgence, securing numerous posts in student council elections across five major universities, including Dhaka University and Jagannath University, while Chhatra Dal has struggled to gain similar electoral traction.
At Jagannath University, the situation deteriorated during a seminar commemorating the July uprising. University student council representatives, alongside members of the Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and Inqilab Mancha, attempted to enter the auditorium to protest, demanding that the construction of a second campus be handed over to the military and that medical services be improved. The university’s Chhatra Dal unit attempted to block their entry, leading to a physical altercation.
Witnesses reported that the violence escalated as Chhatra Dal members launched attacks on Shibir and Chhatra Shakti activists near the university’s Shaheed Minar and medical center. The conflict spread to the Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital, where injured students were receiving treatment; eyewitnesses reported that Chhatra Dal members launched two separate attacks on the facility throughout the afternoon. Medical staff confirmed treating at least 50 individuals, many of whom sustained head injuries, with several in critical condition transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
University authorities responded by forming a four-member investigation committee led by the chairman of the Social Work department. The administration has also requested increased security from law enforcement to secure the campus through Thursday. Sources suggest the clash was further fueled by disputes over construction tenders for a new 10-story student hall, as competing student factions held conflicting views on whether the facility should be permanent or temporary.
Simultaneous unrest gripped Dhaka College and the Government Alia Madrasa. At the latter, the situation escalated into a full-scale confrontation involving local youth wing leaders and political activists who allegedly stormed residential halls, vandalized property, and physically assaulted the institution’s principal.
By Tuesday evening, the groups had retreated into polarized defensive positions, with both organizations issuing statements. Shibir called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators and proper care for the injured, while Chhatra Dal maintained its stance of upholding peaceful politics while vowing to resist what it termed as “incitement and chaos.”
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