At least six people were injured in a clash between activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Union and Chhatra Dal near TSC on Dhaka University campus on Wednesday night, following an allegation that three female students had been harassed by Chhatra Dal activists.
The clash began after a female Chhatra Union activist allegedly called fellow organisation members, saying that she and two other female students had been harassed by three Chhatra Dal activists who had come to the campus to attend a rally led by Chhatra Dal Central Vice-President Monjurul Islam Riyad.
The incident occurred around 9pm after the Chhatra Dal rally ended in Shahbag.
According to witnesses, four Chhatra Union activists, including its Central General Secretary Shimul Kumbhakar and DU unit General Secretary Muhammad Mustakim, were sitting at a nearby tea stall when they received the call.
Antu Arindam, president of the organisation's private university unit, was also among those present, witnesses said.
The Chhatra Union activists then confronted the alleged Chhatra Dal activists, triggering a scuffle that later escalated into a clash.
Witnesses said the Chhatra Union activists, along with other DU students, attacked the three men after learning of the alleged harassment.
"At one stage, an agitated student broke a tea cup on a Chhatra Dal activist, causing immediate bleeding. His white shirt became soaked in blood," a witness said.
Two of the Chhatra Dal activists were injured and later called their associates, who were returning home after attending the rally on the DU campus, witnesses said. The ensuing clash left at least six people injured on both sides.
Shimul Kumbhakar said the three men identified themselves as Chhatra Dal activists and had harassed two female DU students, one of whom was a Chhatra Union member.
"I entered the second clash to stop it, but I was also injured. They were 15 to 20 people and beat us indiscriminately," he said.
Chhatra Dal Dhaka Mahanagar South Organising Secretary Golam Rabbany Robin was seen at the scene trying to disperse the gathering.
"I was returning home after the Chhatra Dal programme when I saw a scuffle. So I went there and tried to disperse them," he said.
However, Robin denied that those involved in the clash were Chhatra Dal activists.
Asked how 15 to 20 people could gather inside the campus immediately after the incident if they had not come to attend the Chhatra Dal programme, he said: "I don't know them. I just tried to solve the issue."
Chhatra Dal Central Vice-President Monjurul Islam Riyad said he was unaware of any Chhatra Dal member being injured in the incident.
"We neither got beaten nor did we hit anyone," he said.
Following the incident, Chhatra Union brought out a protest procession on the campus.
The alleged victims later submitted a written complaint to the university proctor at night.
DU Proctor Israfil Ratan could not be reached for comment. He had earlier told the media that the university authorities were looking into the matter.