The Democratic Student Alliance condemned clashes involving Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir at educational institutions in Dhaka and Rangpur.
Clashes occurred at Jagannath University, Dhaka College and Government Madrasa-e-Alia on Tuesday, following a clash at Begum Rokeya University the previous day.
At Jagannath University, tensions began during an event where representatives of the university’s student union, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and the available report Moncho sought to enter with placards calling for campus-development and health-service measures.
Jagannath University Chhatra Dal convener Mehedi Hasan alleged that Shibir and allied groups intended to insult University Grants Commission chairman Mamun Ahmed and that a fight followed after they refused to leave.
Representatives of the student union and allied groups alleged that Chhatra Dal members attacked their activists, including near the university medical centre.
A student-union representative who was injured alleged that the attack was linked to frustration over a construction tender, an allegation not independently established in the evidence.
A physician at Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital said that at least 50 injured people received treatment by 4pm, that 15 to 20 remained under care, and that four to five people with serious injuries were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The physician said most of those treated had head injuries, while injured people included members of Shibir, Chhatra Shakti, the student union and Chhatra Dal.
At Dhaka College, an altercation followed heightened tension between the two groups, and two crude bombs exploded in the New Market area later in the afternoon.
At Government Madrasa-e-Alia, Shibir’s branch president Abdul Alim alleged that Chhatra Dal members assaulted its activists in a hall and locked several rooms.
A Chhatra Dal aspirant for an organisational post, Saad Chowdhury, said the clash began after a room was locked amid a dispute over rooms that he said Shibir had occupied.
Jagannath University’s vice-chancellor, Rais Uddin, announced a four-member investigation committee led by social work department chair Mustafa Hasan and urged both sides to remain calm.