Jagannath University Clash Erupts Between Chhatra Dal and Shibir

A clash broke out between activists of the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Jagannath University in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, leaving several people injured and prompting heightened tension on the campus.

Among those reportedly injured were Jagannath University Chhatra Shibir president Md Abdul Alim Arif and Yasin Saif, a member of the university Chhatra Dal convening committee. Several other activists from both sides were also said to have sustained injuries during the confrontation.

According to witnesses, the incident began shortly before noon when the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) arrived at the university’s Central Auditorium to attend a programme. Around the same time, a group of Chhatra Shibir activists attempted to enter the venue carrying placards highlighting various problems and concerns on the campus.

The attempt reportedly led to an altercation with Chhatra Dal activists, which soon escalated into a physical confrontation. The situation created tension in and around the university premises as supporters of the two organisations became involved in the clash.

A correspondent present at the scene reported that the Shibir activists had been carrying placards referring to different campus-related issues as they tried to enter the programme venue. The precise content of the placards and the immediate reason for the confrontation could not be independently verified.

Following the clash, Chhatra Dal activists reportedly drove the Shibir members out of the campus. They subsequently held a sit-in programme on the university premises.

The incident comes amid renewed political and organisational tensions involving student groups at several public universities in Bangladesh. Disputes over campus activities, programmes, banners and demonstrations have occasionally led to confrontations between rival student organisations. Such incidents have raised concerns over the atmosphere for academic activities and student participation in campus affairs.

Speaking at around 1:20pm, Sutrapur police station officer-in-charge Motiur Rahman said the situation on the university campus and in the surrounding areas had returned to calm following the clash.

Police presence and the overall security situation remained a key concern after the confrontation, particularly as the incident took place during a university programme attended by a senior official of the country’s higher education regulatory body.

The latest clash also follows a similar confrontation at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur on Monday. At least seven people were injured there after an altercation between activists of Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir reportedly broke out over the display of a banner at a ‘July Mass Uprising Day’ exhibition.

The back-to-back incidents have renewed attention on tensions between the two student organisations at public universities. Further developments at Jagannath University are expected to depend on the response of university authorities, law enforcement agencies and the organisations involved.