Chattogram: Over 70 students of Chattogram University, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Md. Kamal Hossain, were injured in clashes between students and locals here today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Hathazari Upazila administration imposed Section 144 on both sides of the road from the eastern boundary of the university's Gate No. 2 market to the east of the railway gate for 6 hours from 2 pm today. During this period, all types of meetings, demonstrations, mass gatherings, carrying explosives, firearms, and all types of indigenous weapons, as well as the presence or movement of five or more people together in the relevant areas, have been completely banned.
Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Muhammad Abdullah Al Mumin issued the order at 11:30 am today. The clash erupted between local people and university students on both sides of the road from the eastern boundary of Gate No. 2 Bazar of Chattogram University in Fatepur Union under Hathazari Upazila to the railway gate in the east.
A female student from the philosophy department of CU (2024-25 academic year) got into an argument with a guard when she tried to enter a rented house near Gate No. 2 around 11:30 pm on Saturday night. The guard ended up hitting her, causing tension to escalate as other students arrived upon hearing about the incident. Locals then began throwing bricks at the students, leading to a clash.
The situation worsened when the locals gathered and attacked the students after making an announcement on the mosque's microphone. In response, the students also used the university's Suhrawardy Hall mosque's microphone to call for support and joined the clash. The clash intensified around 1:30 am near Gate No. 2, with eyewitnesses reporting that many students were injured.
Approximately 60 people were injured in the clash, with 20-21 seriously injured individuals being taken to Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital at that time. The situation escalated as the two sides clashed near Gate No. 2 of the university around 11:30 am today. At least 10 students, including the university's pro-vice-chancellor (administration) Professor Md. Kamal Hossain, were injured in the confrontation the second time.
Hundreds of students and local residents faced off, shouting slogans at each other. Despite efforts by the students to defend themselves, the overwhelming number of locals forced them to retreat, leading to more injuries. The pro vice-chancellor (administration) Md. Kamal Hossain was among those injured, with blood flowing from their heads. Journalists and some local residents were also caught in the violence.
Students claimed that the locals had targeted them following a clash the previous day, blocking students residing in rented houses near the university. After receiving the news, they gathered and went to the Uttara residential area where the students were attacked with indigenous weapons and had bricks thrown at them.
On Sunday around 2:30 pm, three CU buses were seen in front of the emergency department at CMCH with injured students, many of them being brought to the emergency department on stretchers. Some students were admitted to the medical department while sitting in laps in addition to the stretchers. Many of the injured had bandages on their heads and bodies.
CMCH Director Brigadier General Mohammad Taslim Uddin said that about 40 injured students had been admitted to the hospital. Chhatra Dal Senior Vice President Mamun Ur Rashid Mamun, who was with the injured, mentioned that many students were still being brought to CMCH for treatment.
CU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin announced that all university exams had been postponed due to the attack on CU students by locals. Local resident Nurul Huda complained that the students had attacked their houses with sticks, causing significant damage, which led them to chase the students.