Chhatra Dal, Shibir engage in clash at Dhaka College

Activists from Chhatra Dal, and Chhatra Shibir (JCD) engaged in a violent chase and counter-chase twice at the Dhaka College on Tuesday, leaving at least 22 people injured.

The first clash took place around noon over a Shibir-backed programme marking the July Uprising. The second clash took place around 3pm, as tensions boiled over following clashes at Jagannath University.

Shibir activists reportedly took position inside the campus, while JCD activists occupied the area next to the main gate. Heavy police were deployed following the clashes, and police also cleared the road in front of the college.

Around 4pm, two crude bombs exploded near the New Market, but no injury was reported.

Referring to the first incident, Shibir’s Dhaka College Unit Finance Secretary Mohammad Mamun claimed that the student group had organised a discussion session and a felicitation programme for the families of those martyred in the July Uprising a day ahead of the second anniversary of the 2024 movement.

Around noon, Shibir Office Secretary Abdul Malek, accompanied by 4-5 fellow activists, was decorating Gallery-2 before the start of the programme.

All of a sudden, a group of 20-25 JCD activists stormed the gallery and launched an attack on the Shibir members, leaving Abdul Malek seriously injured.

Abdul Malek was undergoing treatment at the Popular Medical College Hospital, Mohammad Mamun claimed.

Chhatra Dal (JCD) has refuted the allegation against it.

An activist of JCD alleged that “Shibir outsiders” gathered inside the campus ahead of the start of a Shibir-sponsored programme.

At the time, they Shibir activists spoke provocatively with Chhatra Dal activists passing by them. The Shibir men also beat up a Chhatra Dal activist, Chhatra Dal Dhaka College unit’s Md Rasel claimed.

As Chhatra Dal brought out a protest march against the incident, Shibir launched attack, leading to a clash.