Chhatra Dal, Shibir clash at Shahbagh

Members of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir have engaged in chases and counter-chases at the Shahbagh intersection area in the capital.

Chhatra Dal activists attacked leaders from the Shibir-led DUCSU as well as at least ten journalists. Some Shibir members also took shelter inside the Shahbagh Police Station.

The journalists alleged that they were attacked while performing duties even after showing professional identity cards. They also criticised the police for being “silent spectators”.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s (JCD) top leaders reportedly shielded the Shibir activists from attacks, and around 9pm, JCD President Rakibul Islam, with police support, escorted Shibir leaders out of the police station through an alternate route.

Tensions between Chhatra Dal and Shibir have been flaring for the past few days over various issues.

On Thursday evening, Chhatra Dal activists took positions at Shahbagh intersection to demonstrate against Shibir’s alleged covert politics, and the recent alleged abusive social media post made against Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, and his daughter Zaima Rahman by a Shibir activist.

Tarique is also the chairman of BNP, Chhatra Dal’s parent organisation.

A group of Chhatra Dal activists also went inside the police station to seek legal action against a Dhaka University student and Shibir activist Abdullah Al Mahmud for allegedly insulting Tarique and Zaima on social media.

At one point a group of Shibir activists, including Abdullah and three DUCSU leaders, also went to the spot to file a general diary over the security risks Abdullah faced. They claimed that the alleged social media post, for which Abdullah was facing threats from Chhatra Dal activists, was fake and AI-generated.

The DUCSU leaders were: AB Zubair, also social welfare secretary at the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), Musaddik Ali Ibne Mohammad, the Shibir-backed cultural affairs secretary at DUCSU, and Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs Secretary Fatima Tasnim Zuma.

Around 7:30pm, fact-checker Rumor Scanner clarified that the alleged social media post was generated with support from artificial intelligence (AI).

A heated argument broke out between Chhatra Dal activists and Shibir leaders inside the police station, leading to attacks on Shibir leaders.

Musaddik, Zubair and some other Shibir members took shelter inside the Shahbagh Police Station. Chhatra Dal activists allegedly breached the police station’s perimeter and attacked Musaddik.

Earlier in the day, before leaving for Shahbagh, AB Zubair gave a different account of the intended legal measures, and the subsequent brawl. On a social media post, he claimed that the defamation of Tarique, and Zaima was a deliberately framed allegation intended to create an excuse for causing violence at Dhaka University.

Journos attacked

The victims, who are members of the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA), alleged that the attackers targeted them while they were performing their professional duties.

The incident occurred around 7:30 pm when journalists were recording video footage near the police station.

Witnesses stated that leaders and activists from various hall units of the Dhaka University branch of Chhatra Dal carried out the organised assault.

The injured journalists include DUJA President and Kaler Kantho correspondent Manjur Hossain Mahi, DUJA General Secretary and Agamir Somoy correspondent Liton Islam, Mahathir Mohammad of The Daily Star, HM Khalid Hasan of Desh Rupantor, Shamshuddouza Nabab of Dhaka Tribune, Sabbirul Islam of Bangladesh Pratidin, and Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain Sifat of Dhaka Mail.

Liton Islam and Iftekhar Hossain Sifat were admitted to the Dhaka University Medical Center. Sifat reportedly sustained severe injuries to his face and eyes.

According to the victims, the trouble began when JCD activists obstructed journalists from filming. An argument ensued between Manjur Hossain Mahi and Sofi Obaidur Rahman Samith, a student of the Law Department. Mahi stated that the group attacked him even after he provided his professional identity.

Sourav Islam, a correspondent for Risingbd, reported that the situation escalated after he protested the humiliating behaviour of an activist named Shafiqur Rahman.

He alleged that JCD leader Abidul Islam Mishu incited the crowd to beat the journalists, leading to a mass assault.

Victims identified several key individuals involved in the attack, including Haji Muhammad Muhsin Hall convener Abu Zbar Gifari Ifat, Member Secretary Mansur Ahmed Rafi, Shahidullah Hall member secretary Junaid Abrar, and Bijoy Ekattor Hall leaders Shakib Biswas and Sajjad Khan.

Eyewitnesses also noted the presence of DU JCD joint general secretaries Bazlur Rahman Bijoy and Imam Al Naser Mishu during the scuffle.

JCD central general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir stated that he had recently returned from Chittagong and promised to investigate the matter once he gathered full details.