Dhaka: Home Affairs Adviser retired lieutenant general Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today called on the feuding students of Dhaka University and seven affiliated colleges to remain patient as ongoing discussions aim to resolve their issues. Chowdhury emphasized the importance of dialogue in finding a resolution, urging all parties to approach the situation with calmness.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chowdhury commented on the overnight clashes between students from the seven colleges and Dhaka University, stating, “The problem can be solved through discussions. We can find a solution to this through discussions. So, everyone has to be patient.” He stressed that impatience would not lead to a resolution and encouraged facing the challenges with patience.
The adviser also appealed to the protesters to avoid obstructing roads, which causes inconvenience to the public, and suggested Suhrawardy Udyan as an alternative venue for demonstrations. He advised law enforcement agencies to manage the situation with patience, noting that street blockades could lead to severe traffic jams and impede access to nearby hospitals in Shahbagh.
The tension escalated around 11 pm on Sunday when clashes broke out between students of Dhaka University and the seven colleges in the Nilkhet area of the capital. Police resorted to using sound grenades, tear gas canisters, and rubber bullets to disperse the students amid repeated confrontations. To aid the police, four platoons of the paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to the scene to help restore order.