At least 20 people were injured in a clash that ensued between the members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh Chhatra League in Dinajpur on Wednesday.
The unrest began around 1pm in front of the Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University.
At the time of writing this report, the situation had not yet been brought under control.
From early morning, BNP leaders from various districts of the Rangpur Division had been arriving in Dinajpur to participate in the countrywide road march program, aiming to press their one-point demand for polls under a non-party interim government.
In the afternoon, Chhatra League activists intercepted and vandalized a bus carrying BNP supporters in front of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University.
At this point, BNP leaders retaliated against the Chhatra League supporters.
The BNP activists then entered the campus and attempted to break the windows and main gates of various residential buildings.
This sparked a series of chase and counter-chase incidents between BNP leaders and Chhatra League supporters.
Four buses were vandalized during the course of these events, with at least 20 individuals injured on both sides.
Extra police forces have been deployed at the scene of the incident.
University Chhatra League leader Shah Alam claimed that at least eight to ten of their activists were injured in the attack by BNP leaders, who also broke windows of the residential buildings and the main gate in front of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences building.
University Proctor Dr Md Mamunur Rashid said that BNP supporters initiated the attacks on Chhatra League activists and caused destruction on the campus.
Efforts are ongoing to calm the situation, he added.
Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Tanvirul Islam reported that Detective Branch (DB) and police officers have been deployed.
“Police are currently working to bring the situation under control,” he added.