Alia Madrasa: Chhatra Shibir withdraws after clashes; Chhatra Dal enters dormitory

Leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti who were receiving treatment in the emergency department of National Medical Institute Hospital after the earlier clashes at Jagannath University were reportedly attacked again.

According to the report, leaders and activists of the Dhaka South units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal entered the hospital at around 4:45 pm.

They allegedly assaulted injured activists outside the hospital as well as those undergoing treatment in the emergency department. One injured person was reportedly dragged out of the emergency ward and beaten.

Earlier, a scuffle and subsequent clash broke out between activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and leaders and activists of the Jagannath University Central Students' Union (JnUCSU) and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti over entry into a seminar marking the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising at Jagannath University.

The incidents occurred around noon on Tuesday at the university auditorium and later in front of the Shaheed Minar.

Several JnUCSU and Chhatra Shakti leaders and activists were injured in the clashes. Some of the injured were receiving treatment at National Medical Hospital in Old Dhaka. Chhatra Dal also claimed that several of its activists were injured.

Supporters of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir are clashing in front of Dhaka Alia Madrasa in the Bakshibazar area of the capital.

The confrontation began at around 5:15 pm on Tuesday in front of the Alia Madrasa field, with both sides chasing each other. Several people have reportedly been injured.

Activists from both groups were seen throwing bricks and engaging in running battles.

Several people were injured in a clash between activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka College, according to police.

Sheikh Zahidul Islam, deputy commissioner of the Ramna Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told Prothom Alo that the clash took place inside the Dhaka College campus.

"There was a fight between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir inside the campus. Several people were injured," he said.

He added that police are not stationed inside the campus but responded after receiving information about the incident.

Fresh tensions have erupted outside National Medical Institute Hospital following the clashes involving Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti at Jagannath University.

Leaders and activists from both sides have gathered outside the hospital. Eyewitnesses said leaders and activists of the Dhaka South units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal were also present.

Police have been deployed to the area to keep the situation under control.

Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were still gathered outside National Medical Institute Hospital in the capital on Tuesday evening. However, no leaders or activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir were seen at the scene. Police remained on alert.

Earlier in the day, people injured in the clashes involving Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti at Jagannath University were reportedly assaulted after they arrived at the emergency department of National Medical Institute Hospital for treatment. The incident heightened tensions outside the hospital.

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rabiul Islam told Prothom Alo in the evening that the situation was now calm and that those who had been receiving treatment had been transferred to another hospital.

He added that leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were near Kabi Nazrul Government College and Jagannath University, while police remained on high alert.

As of around 6:45 pm, when this report was filed, Chhatra Dal activists were still present outside the hospital alongside police personnel. No Chhatra Shibir leaders or activists were seen there.

Following the clashes and attacks at Jagannath University, the university administration has formed a four-member investigation committee. During an emergency press conference, the vice-chancellor also urged both sides to remain calm.

Professor Mostafa Hasan, chairman of the Department of Social Work, has been appointed convener of the committee, while Deputy Registrar Md. Shahidullah will serve as member secretary.

The other members are Professor Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman of the Department of Chemistry and Associate Professor Mezbah-ul-Azam Saudagar of the Department of Political Science.

The committee was announced in a notice signed by Acting Registrar Professor Md Sheikh Gias Uddin on Tuesday.

Jagannath University Vice Chancellor Professor Md Rais Uddin held an emergency press conference on Tuesday afternoon following the violence.

He said the university administration had held multiple coordination meetings and consultations with various active student organisations and other stakeholders ahead of the event marking the anniversary of the July Mass Uprising to ensure it was conducted peacefully, orderly, and with due dignity.

The administration had made comprehensive preparations for the nationally significant program, which was attended by University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed as the chief guest.

The vice-chancellor said the UGC chairman had been invited in recognition of the commission's support for the university's education, research, infrastructure development, and overall progress. Everyone was expected to behave with restraint, responsibility, and discipline in the interest of the university's image and development given the presence of such a high-level guest on an important national occasion. Instead, the clash between the two sides disrupted the entire event.

He added, "I came out of the seminar and tried to calm them down, but no one listened to me."

The vice-chancellor said the administration was giving the highest priority to maintaining a conducive academic environment and was taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of students, faculty members, and staff.

"There is no place for violence, terrorism, or disorder at the university. Whoever is found responsible for the incident will face legal and disciplinary action in accordance with university regulations following an investigation," he said.

He said the investigation committee had been instructed to promptly determine the root causes of the incident, identify those involved, and submit recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Police personnel were seen on high alert outside National Medical Institute Hospital in the capital on Tuesday evening. Leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were gathered around Kabi Nazrul Government College and Jagannath University. However, no members of Islami Chhatra Shibir were seen.

Earlier in the day, people injured in the clashes involving Chhatra Dal, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti at Jagannath University were reportedly assaulted after arriving at the emergency department of National Medical Hospital for treatment, triggering fresh tensions outside the hospital.

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rabiul Islam told Prothom Alo in the evening that the situation was now calm and that those who had been receiving treatment had been transferred to another hospital.

He added that leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal, and the BNP remained stationed around Kabi Nazrul Government College and Jagannath University, while police also continued to maintain a heightened security presence.

Alia Madrasa: Chhatra Shibir withdraws after clashes; Chhatra Dal enters dormitory

After nearly an hour and a half of running battles, several hundred leaders and activists led by Robiul Islam Nayan, member secretary of the Dhaka South unit of Jubo Dal, entered the Allama Kashgari (RA) Hall of Dhaka Alia Madrasa at around 6:30 pm on Tuesday. Before they entered, however, activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir had withdrawn from the hall.

Following their entry, several rooms in the dormitory that had reportedly been under Shibir's control were vandalised. During the incident, Jubo Dal activists allegedly assaulted Mohammad Obaidul Haque, principal of Government Alia Madrasa. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Daud Khan, publicity secretary of the Dhaka East unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, told journalists that 25 Shibir activists had been injured in what he described as a "terrorist attack" by Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal at Dhaka Alia Madrasa.

"One of our activists, Fuad, is in critical condition," he said.

Saad Chowdhury, a candidate for the post of organising secretary of the Dhaka Alia Madrasa unit of Chhatra Dal and a first-year Kamil student, gave a different account.

He told Prothom Alo that "Shibir terrorists attacked us repeatedly. More than 30 of our leaders and activists were injured in their attacks, and two of them are in critical condition."