Midnight clash between DU and seven colleges turns violent, leaving five injured
- Conflict sparked by a sit-in over five-point demands. - DU students were chased, prompting a counter-chase. - Police responded with sound grenades; BGB forces were deployed. - All DU exams and classes scheduled for Monday were postponed.
Tensions between Dhaka University (DU) students and students from seven affiliated government colleges flared late Sunday night and continued into the early hours of Monday, resulting in clashes that left at least five people injured. The conflict, which began around 11pm, lasted until after 1:30am.
The unrest started when several hundred students from the affiliated colleges staged a sit-in at the Science Lab intersection for over four hours, pressing for five specific demands directed at the DU authorities. Around 10:30pm, the demonstrators marched to the residence of DU Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamun Ahmed and continued their protest near the Mukti O Gonotontro Toron at Nilkhet intersection.
Tensions escalated when DU students, emerging from various halls, confronted and chased the protesting college students from the Nilkhet intersection. The affiliated college students regrouped and counter-chased the DU students, resulting in violent clashes.
By midnight, police intervened, using sound grenades to disperse the crowds. Four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to restore order.
The Demands
The protesting affiliated college students presented five demands:
- Abolishing the existing quota system in the seven colleges’ admission tests starting in the 2024-25 session.
- Ensuring that admissions do not exceed classroom capacities.
- Considering the teacher-student ratio during admissions.
- Penalizing wrong answers in the admission test by deducting marks.
- Depositing admission fees into a separate account, independent of DU, to ensure financial transparency.
Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, attempted to mediate at around 12:30am. He spoke with DU students near New Market but was unable to approach the college students due to the use of tear gas.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Mamun Ahmed clarified the situation, stating: “They came to talk to me. I asked them to come in pairs, but over fifty students forced their way in. No mistreatment occurred.” He expressed regret over the events and assured that the issues would be resolved through discussions.
A meeting to address the students’ demands has been scheduled for 12:30pm on Monday.
Latest Updates
As of 2:30am, DU students had gathered near the university’s Mukti O Gonotontro Toron, while the affiliated college students, including those from Eden College, remained at New Market. Police continued to use sound grenades to prevent further escalation.
In light of the unrest, DU authorities have postponed all classes and exams scheduled for Monday.
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