The situation escalated into repeated physical altercations between two groups as the new student organization, "Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council," was launched amid protests by those denied committee positions.
On Wednesday, at 3 pm, former coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement held a press conference at Dhaka University's Madhu's Canteen to unveil the organization's committee.
Prior to the announcement, students from private universities protested in the Dhaka University area against the formation of the committee. They complained that, despite playing crucial roles in the July movement, these students were being excluded from the new organization.
They accused the committee of discriminating against representatives from private universities by centering it primarily around Dhaka University.
The Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council, established under the slogan "Education, Unity, Liberation," has appointed the following leaders: Abu Baker Majumdar as central committee convenor, Touhid Mohammad Siam as senior joint convenor, Zahid Ahsan as member secretary, Rifat Rashid as senior joint member secretary, Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury as chief organizer, and Ashrefa Khatun as spokesperson.
For the Dhaka University committee of the Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council, Abdul Kader serves as convenor, Limon Mahmud Hasan as senior joint convenor, Mohir Alam as member secretary, Al Amin Sarkar as senior joint member secretary, Hasib Al Islam as chief organizer, and Rafia Rehnuma Hridi as spokesperson.
A physical altercation broke out around 4pm in front of Madhu's Canteen as both groups of students maintained their positions. Subsequently, further clashes occurred at various locations, including Dhaka University Mall Chattar and in front of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
MD Mishu Ali Suhas, an injured student from State University, said that they had taken their positions at Madhu's Canteen in the afternoon in accordance with their pre-announced program. He added that some individuals who were denied positions attempted to create chaos.
"When asked to stop, they attacked us. The names of those who created confusion will be revealed later," he said.
A private university student, who wished to remain anonymous, alleged that supporters of Rifat Rashid and some students who were denied positions staged the incident to obstruct the launch of the new student organization, even though they had been attempting to resolve issues related to committee positions.
Iqbal Mazumder, who came from Uttara, said that more than a hundred protesters from Uttara were martyred during the mass uprising, yet no one from Uttara was included in the central committee.
"The committee was formed exclusively with Dhaka University students. We do not accept this committee; we want our contributions to be recognized," Iqbal added.
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the new student organization chanted slogans such as "Democratic Students' Council, long live" and "Education, Unity, Liberation," among others.
Amid ongoing clashes between the two sides, at 5pm, as the committee was about to be announced from inside Madhu's Canteen, private university students attempted to block the announcement. However, leaders and activists from Dhaka University managed to halt the protest and proceed with the announcement.
After the announcement, while the leaders and activists proceeded in a procession through Mall Square towards TSC, the former coordinators and disgruntled students became confrontational on the road to Dhaka University's Shadow area and Mall Chattar. At one point, fighting broke out between the two sides, resulting in injuries to several people, including women.