A clash broke out between two groups of the Jagannath University unit of Chhatra Dal during a concert on the university campus, leaving at least three students injured. The incident reportedly began with an argument over seating on the stage before escalating into a physical confrontation.
The incident took place at around 12.30am on Wednesday (16 September) in the Kathaltala area of Jagannath University (JnU), near the Social Sciences Building.
According to eyewitnesses, an argument first developed between supporters of JnU Chhatra Dal joint convenor Mostafizur Rahman Rumi and those of joint convenor Sumon Sardar over who would sit on the stage during the concert. What began as a verbal dispute reportedly turned into pushing and shoving, eventually leading to a clash between the two groups.
The injured students have been identified as Tanzil Ahmed Mithil, a student of the Mathematics Department from the 2022-23 academic session, and Shawon and Monir, students of the Chemistry Department. All three went to Dhaka National Medical College Hospital for treatment following the incident.
Kamal Hossain, a physician at the hospital’s emergency department, said three people had come to the hospital seeking medical attention. Two of them had sustained injuries to their heads, while one was admitted to the surgery department for further treatment.
Eyewitnesses said tensions began after a member of one group objected to another member’s presence on the stage. The disagreement reportedly intensified following an exchange of words and physical pushing. The confrontation subsequently spread to the Kathaltala area in front of the Social Sciences Building, where the two groups became involved in a clash.
The precise circumstances that led to the confrontation could not be independently confirmed immediately. While the dispute over stage seating was cited as the immediate trigger by eyewitnesses, the accounts available did not establish whether there were other factors behind the incident.
JnU Chhatra Dal joint convenor Sumon Sardar described the incident as the result of a misunderstanding between senior and junior members. He said there had been a brief altercation but that the matter had subsequently been settled.
Attempts were made several times to contact Chhatra Dal’s JnU unit convenor Mehedi Hasan Himel and joint convenor Mostafizur Rahman Rumi for their comments, but no response was received.
The university administration also said it had not been informed about the incident at the time it occurred. JnU Proctor Professor Dr Azam Khan said he had learned about the matter for the first time after being contacted about it. He said the university would look into the incident and take necessary action after obtaining details.
The clash has raised concerns over tensions between different groups within the student organisation during a campus event. With three students requiring medical attention, the university authorities are expected to establish what happened and determine whether any further steps are necessary.
