Tensions have gripped Dhaka College following a chasedown between activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, reportedly triggered by a dispute over an event on the campus. The incident took place at around 12.30pm on Tuesday (4 August), leaving several people reportedly injured and raising concerns over the safety of students and the stability of the college environment.
According to eyewitnesses and people familiar with the incident, the confrontation began in the Gallery-2 area of the college, where a disagreement reportedly developed between members of the two organisations in connection with an event. The dispute subsequently escalated into a chasedown, creating a tense situation inside the campus. The commotion reportedly caused anxiety among ordinary students, some of whom became concerned as the confrontation unfolded.
Mohammad Mamun, finance secretary of the Dhaka College unit of Chhatra Shibir, said the organisation had arranged a reception for families of those killed during the July uprising, along with a discussion programme, at Gallery-2 to mark its anniversary. He said several Shibir activists, led by the organisation’s office secretary Abdul Malek, were engaged in decorating the venue ahead of the programme.
Mamun alleged that between 20 and 25 activists led by Parvez Mosharraf, a member of the convening committee of the Dhaka College unit of Chhatra Dal, arrived at the venue while the preparations were under way. He claimed that Abdul Malek and several others present there were assaulted during the incident.
According to Mamun, Abdul Malek sustained a serious head injury and was taken to Popular Medical College Hospital in the capital for treatment. He is reportedly receiving medical care there, although detailed information about his condition was not immediately available.
The incident was followed by another development that heightened tensions on the campus. At around 1.30pm, activists of the Dhaka College unit of Chhatra Dal reportedly held a procession inside the college premises to demonstrate their position. The procession added to the already tense atmosphere, with concern growing among students over the possibility of further confrontation.
However, the two sides have differing accounts of how the incident began and what happened during the confrontation. As of the time of reporting, no detailed statement had been received from the Chhatra Dal leadership regarding the allegations made by Chhatra Shibir. As a result, the exact circumstances surrounding the clash, the sequence of events and the total number of people injured could not be independently confirmed.
The incident has once again raised concerns about political confrontations within educational institutions and their potential impact on students. Dhaka College is a prominent educational institution, and any disruption on its premises can affect the normal academic environment as well as the sense of security among students who are not directly involved in political activities.
Students are understood to be concerned that disputes between organised political groups should not escalate into wider violence or interfere with their academic activities. Maintaining a peaceful campus atmosphere is particularly important when events and organisational programmes are being held on college premises.
The immediate priority now is to establish what happened through statements from all sides, eyewitness accounts and other available evidence. A clear understanding of the circumstances would be necessary to determine responsibility for the violence and prevent further escalation.
The role of the college authorities in maintaining order and protecting students is also expected to come under scrutiny following the incident. Any further tension could disrupt normal academic activities and create an atmosphere of uncertainty on campus. For that reason, all concerned parties are expected to exercise restraint and ensure that political disagreements do not develop into violence within the educational institution.
With the accounts of the two groups yet to be reconciled, a complete picture of Tuesday’s incident remains unavailable. Further verification of the claims and the condition of those reportedly injured will be necessary before the circumstances surrounding the confrontation can be established conclusively.
