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At least 27 activists were injured after a clash between the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka College on Tuesday, hours after a similar confrontation at Jagannath University.
According to reports, around 20 Shibir activists and seven JCD members were injured in the violence, which broke out at around 1:00 pm near Gallery No. 2 of the college.
Shibir leaders said the college unit had organised a pre-announced discussion titled “Expectations and Achievements of the July Uprising” to mark the second anniversary of the July uprising.
They alleged that JCD activists launched a sudden attack while Shibir members were putting up banners for the programme.
Among the injured was Abdul Malek, finance secretary of the college unit of Chhatra Shibir, who was admitted to Popular Medical College Hospital with head injuries.
The violence later spread to the Nilkhet area, where the two groups reportedly chased each other with sticks, leaving more people injured.
Mamun Sheikh, finance secretary of the Dhaka College unit of Chhatra Shibir, claimed that around 20 of their activists were injured in what he described as an unprovoked attack while they were peacefully preparing for the programme.
JCD leaders, however, denied the allegation.
Standing outside the college’s main gate, Dhaka College JCD Member Secretary Millad Hossain claimed Shibir had earlier attacked JCD activists with the intention of killing them.
“We are here to ensure the safety of our activists and students. We will not allow terrorist activities or Shibir politics on this campus,” he said.
Dhaka College Principal Prof AKM Elias said normal academic activities had been underway when he heard slogans from a procession.
He later learned that tensions had erupted between JCD and Chhatra Shibir, though he could not immediately confirm the cause of the incident. Police have been informed, he added.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, activists of JCD and Chhatra Shibir also clashed during a programme attended by the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman at Jagannath University, prompting intervention by university authorities and law enforcement agencies.