The campuses that once symbolised Bangladesh’s democratic awakening during the July uprising are again becoming battlegrounds, as rival student organisations clash across the country two years later.
Within just two days, clashes involving activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir spread from Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur to Jagannath University, Dhaka College and Government Madrasah-e-Alia in the capital, prompting university authorities to launch investigations and deploy additional police.
The violence came amid growing tensions between rival student organisations over ideology, campus influence and organisational dominance, highlighting how campuses that played a central role in last year’s anti-government movement are again becoming arenas of political confrontation.
The first major clash broke out on Monday evening at Begum Rokeya University during an exhibition marking July Uprising Day.
According to university authorities, the violence began after Chhatra Dal activists objected to a banner titled “Judicial Killing,” which displayed photographs of six Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP leaders convicted of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The dispute quickly escalated into repeated chases and counter-chases lasting more than five hours.
Witnesses said activists from both groups carried locally made sharp weapons, hockey sticks, iron rods, bamboo poles and helmets as traffic outside the campus came to a halt.
Both organisations blamed each other for provoking the violence.
The university administration later formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident.
The unrest spread to Dhaka on Tuesday morning when rival student groups clashed at Jagannath University during a documentary screening attended by University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed.
Witnesses said tensions began after members of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti attempted to enter the auditorium carrying placards demanding faster implementation of several campus-related demands.
The situation deteriorated after Chhatra Dal activists intervened, eventually erupting into large-scale violence.
The clashes later spilled into the National Medical College Hospital, where injured students had been taken for treatment.
Doctors said more than 70 injured people received treatment by Tuesday evening, making it the most serious incident among the recent campus confrontations.
Those injured included leaders from Chhatra Dal, Shibir, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and the university’s central students’ union, as well as several journalists.
Hours later, violence reached Dhaka College, where rival groups again confronted each other outside the campus.
Witnesses reported clashes, brick-throwing and the open display of sticks and iron rods as police rushed to reinforce security around Science Lab, New Market and adjoining areas.
Around 20 people were reportedly injured.
Another confrontation broke out later in the afternoon at Government Madrasah-e-Alia in Bakshibazar, where several people, including the institution’s principal, were injured.
Police said they were investigating the incident, although officers indicated that tensions over control of residential halls and campus influence had been building for some time.
Authorities deployed additional police to prevent further escalation.
By Tuesday night, university administrations at Begum Rokeya University and Jagannath University had announced separate investigation committees, while police remained deployed at several campuses in Dhaka to prevent further clashes.
