Clashes at Chittagong University Leave 35 Students Injured, Including Pro-Vice Chancellor

At Chittagong University (CU), fresh clashes between students and local residents at the No. 2 gate area resulted in injuries to nearly 35 individuals, including the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor and Proctor.

The incident occurred on Sunday, 31 August, around noon.

Key Details

• Officials Present: Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Kamal Uddin and Proctor Professor Dr. Tanvir Mohammad Haider Arif, along with other administrative staff, were present at the scene.
• Casualties: Approximately 35 students, along with the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Proctor, sustained injuries. Many students were bloodied by makeshift weapons wielded by locals.
• Law Enforcement: No law enforcement personnel were seen at the scene, which angered the students.

The unrest traces back to Saturday night (30 August) around 11:15 PM, when a female student of the Philosophy Department was assaulted by her flat’s caretaker for attempting late-night entry. Witnessing the incident, nearby students intervened, causing the caretaker to flee. Subsequently, locals began throwing bricks and other objects at the students.

Escalation

• Saturday Night: From midnight, clashes intensified, injuring about 70 students. The situation was temporarily controlled after the army intervened.
• Sunday Noon: Locals were seen patrolling with makeshift weapons, prompting groups of students to respond, escalating the standoff.
• Mosque Announcement: Locals reportedly used the mosque microphone to incite further attacks on students, worsening the campus tension.

Students expressed frustration over the absence of law enforcement and the repeated use of domestic weapons by locals. The renewed violence highlights a persistent security concern on the campus.