At least 18 people were injured on Thursday as clashes between Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal and Bangladesh Islami Chhatna Shibir spread to Barishal University and Government Tolaram College in Narayanganj, officials said.
Violence erupts at Barishal University
Witnesses reported that the morning incident began when the university unit of Shibir organized a procession titled “Indomitable July” to mark the anniversary of the July Uprising. Activists from Dal objected to what they described as the presence of outsiders in the march.
Senior vice‑president of the Dal university unit, Ashiq Ahmed, claimed the Shibir group entered the campus with people carrying sticks and flags, and that his members were attacked after they asked the procession to proceed without outsiders. He said five to six of his activists were injured.
General secretary Zakaria Islam Babu rejected the allegation. He said the programme was peaceful until Dal activists attacked near the vice‑chancellor’s gate, injuring around five Shibir members. Babu added that a written complaint had been filed with the vice‑chancellor.
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The university proctor could not be reached for comment. Barishal Metropolitan Police’s Additional Deputy Commissioner, Belal Hossain, said police arrived quickly after reports of the clash and deployed additional officers to the campus, urging both sides to stay calm.
Separate clash at Government Tolaram College
In the afternoon, a second incident unfolded at Government Tolaram College in Narayanganj’s Chashara area. Police and witnesses said the violence started after Shibir activists were reportedly stopped from delivering a speech at a programme commemorating the July Uprising.
The argument escalated, with participants from both groups using iron rods, sticks and brickbats. At least eight people were injured before police intervened and restored order. Additional Superintendent of Police (Detective Branch) Hasinuzzaman said legal action would follow a review of CCTV footage.
Both organisations blamed each other for the outbreak. Shibir alleged that Dal launched a sudden attack while its programme was underway, while Dal claimed Shibir activists struck its members without provocation after the programme had ended.
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These incidents come after a wave of unrest that began at Dhaka University’s Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah Hall on Sunday, spread to Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur on Monday, and intensified on Wednesday with clashes at Jagannath University, Dhaka College and Government Madrasah‑e‑Alia. That day, at least 80 people were injured across those campuses.
With today’s injuries added, the total number of those hurt in the past four days now exceeds 100 across seven campuses. The scale of the unrest shows how student politics in Bangladesh can quickly turn volatile, especially when competing groups contest the use of campus spaces for political events.
Authorities may find it difficult to contain the flare‑ups without clear guidelines on campus gatherings. If police continue to rely on after‑the‑fact investigations, such as reviewing CCTV footage, the risk of recurring clashes remains high.
Legal proceedings are expected to follow the recent incidents, and university officials have reportedly received formal complaints from both sides. Whether the investigations will lead to lasting changes in how student organisations operate on campuses remains to be seen.