Campus tensions rise as rivalries spiral into chaos

Tension on campuses across the country has heightened as clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir erupted in Dhaka, Cumilla and Pabna, following brawls between the two groups at Chattogram City College over graffiti of “Gupto (hidden) politics” drawn targeting Shibir.

Both parties traded blame over the incidents. Shibir leaders alleged that Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has appeared on campuses with violence in an attempt to divert attention from the country’s ongoing crisis under the instigation of top leaders, while JCD leaders said the incidents were centered around “Gupto” politics and obscene photo cards on social media.

Amid rising heat centering student politics, banned Chhatra League holds processions in Dhaka and Chattogram.

The latest tensions arose at Dhaka University on Thursday (23 April) after a clash between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir erupted at Shahbagh Police Station in the capital, following allegations that a screenshot of an indecent post was circulated from the Facebook account of Abdullah Al Mahmood, a candidate from the Chhatra Shibir panel in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election.

DUCSU leaders AB Zubair and Musaddiq Ali Ibn Muhammad were also allegedly assaulted by Chhatra Dal activists after an argument broke out between them and Chhatra Dal activists. After that, the Chhatra Dal president and senior police officials escorted Zubair and Musaddiq out of the police station.

Several journalists were also allegedly injured and assaulted by Chhatra Dal leaders and activists, which was condemned by Chhatra Dal Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. They also formed a probe body to investigate the allegations of assault on journalists against them. Following the incident, Shibir-dominated Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU), Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU), and Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), held rallies on their campuses protesting the attack on DUCSU leaders Musaddiq and Zubair.

Following the incident, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists observed a “Gupto” graffiti painting programme throughout campuses across the country, including Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Rajshahi University, and others.

Amid this, clashes, counter-chases, and incidents of cocktail explosions occurred on Thursday (23 April) at Ishwardi Government College between the two student groups over the assertion of dominance, where many were reportedly injured.

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Meanwhile, the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal president, Rakibul Islam Rakib, said in a Facebook post that they handled the situation with great patience and tolerance. “Both incidents were centered around ‘Gupto’ politics and obscene photo cards containing extreme vulgar content circulated on social media,” he said, adding that they have been continuing peaceful and democratic protests on these two issues for the past two years.

He also urged all parties, including Islami Chhatra Shibir, to refrain from engaging in any provocative activities, saying that they have instructed their leaders and activists not to create any tense situation and not to respond to any provocative actions from others.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar commented that while the government talks about compromise in parliament regarding the ongoing crisis, it has unleashed Chhatra Dal against Shibir across the country. Chhatra Dal attacked and tortured the leaders elected with 30,000 student votes in DUCSU “like hyenas,” he said at a ward-level Jamaat conference at Johan Dream Valley Park in Jhenaidah town.

“Do not spread false information to mislead people. You call Shibir ‘Gupto,’ but the public may say that those who were absent from the country for 17 years and are now returning were the ones who were actually ‘Gupto,’” he said, adding that Chhatra Dal leaders had stated, “We could not engage in any student politics in the universities for the past 17 years. Now that they have returned, from where did they come? Then they are also ‘Gupto.’”

The banned Chhatra League carried out processions in Dhaka and Chattogram cities. Videos of three processions in Chattogram, as well as in front of the Jatiya Sangsad area and at Kakrail intersection in Dhaka, were circulated on social media on Friday from various Facebook pages affiliated with the suspended Awami League activities.

The videos showed that protesters chanted slogans in the processions, demanding the withdrawal of the ban on Chhatra League.

Political analyst and faculty member of the Political Science at Jagannath University, Mezbah-ul-Azam Sowdagar, said it is necessary to investigate whether anyone is attempting to create such an unstable environment from within.

Dr Md Shahabul Haque, professor of Political Studies at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, urged the passage of a code of conduct for student politics through parliament. “These incidents reflect a power struggle and an attempt to establish dominance where, unfortunately, student organisations affiliated with both the government and opposition parties are becoming involved,” he said.