Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir Clash Over Campus Hall Control

Violent political rivalry resurfaced in the capital during the early hours of Wednesday, as members of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) forcibly evicted around 15 students affiliated with Islami Chhatra Shibir from a residential dormitory at the Government Graphic Arts Institute in Mohammadpur. The midnight confrontation resulted in casualties, hospitalisation, and widespread unrest across the campus premises.

Midnight Eviction and Campus Protest

The violent takeover took place at approximately 12:45 am under the direct leadership of Tamim Matubbar, convenor of the local institute unit of the JCD, and Motahar Hossain, vice-president of Dhaka Metropolitan West JCD. Witnesses recounted seeing between 10 and 15 students being rounded up and expelled from the residential facility under duress, carrying their personal possessions, backpacks, and computer equipment into the street.

Reports indicate that JCD activists physically assaulted the departing students, chasing them from the institute entrance down to the Mohammadpur bus terminus. Following the eviction, the group held a victory march that paraded past Mohammadpur Police Station and proceeded towards the Dhanmandi 27 crossing, shouting hostile slogans targeted at Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Security personnel at the institute confirmed the sudden outbreak of violence around midnight. A guard named Khushiyar reported that at least one injured student, identified as Mehedi, had to be rescued and rushed to the nearby City Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

Conflicting Statements Over the Incident

A Chhatra Shibir member, speaking under condition of anonymity, described the experience as a targeted assault designed to deprive them of accommodation. He noted that nearly 15 students were beaten and driven out into the night without alternative shelter.

Conversely, JCD leadership justified the action through contrasting explanations:

• Initial Confrontation: Local convenor Tamim Matubbar alleged that tensions flared when JCD members attempted to expel an activist belonging to the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), named Rohan, from the hall. He claimed Shibir members intervened on Rohan’s behalf, sparking an argument during which the BCL member escaped.

• Allegations of Subversion: Regional leader Motahar Hossain maintained that Shibir activists had launched violent attacks on JCD workers throughout Tuesday, causing multiple injuries. He added that the midnight eviction was a preventative measure undertaken after learning that Shibir members were assembling inside the dormitory to execute acts of sabotage.

Law Enforcement and Broader Background

Following the disruption, senior officers from Mohammadpur Police Station—including the Officer-in-Charge and two inspectors—inspected the site. While additional police forces were stationed outside the institute to prevent further retaliation, police officials refrained from making formal comments to the press.

Territorial dominance over public university halls and institute dormitories remains a long-standing cause of campus volatility across Bangladesh. Shifts in political influence frequently trigger aggressive efforts by dominant student wings to secure operational control over campus infrastructure, frequently spilling over into violent conflicts like the one observed in Mohammadpur.