Anarchy let loose again over inter-college disputes

Anarchy was let loose again Monday in the capital over inter-college disputes with the latest student mayhem leaving at least 35 injured seriously in Jatrabari area.

The day's flare-ups came in lockstep with Sunday's daylong rioting by students close by, in Old Dhaka, and overnight clashes thereafter in Tejgaon area.

Witnesses said joint forces of army, paramilitary BGB and police later calmed the violence after the rampaging rioters had defied interception by the cops.

Around noon, several hundred students from Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College and Kabi Nazrul Government College ran riot and stormed Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College in a "coordinated attack", plunging the area into chaos.

"The attackers vandalised the college building and looted valuable items, leaving a trail of destruction," says an eyewitness account of the troubles.

It set off a series of violent confrontations, with both sides engaging in repeated clashes and chasing each other through the streets. The situation escalated rapidly, turning the vicinity into a battlefield.

The attackers eventually retreated at about 1:20pm, but the damage had already been done.

Security forces, including army personnel and police, arrived belatedly at the scenes, around 2:00pm, attempting to get to grips with volatile situation.

The delay in their response raised questions about preparedness and a lack of preventive measures despite escalating tensions all around the sprawling city amid variegated protests.

Different hospital sources and media reports said the injured students, including eight in critical state, were undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and adjacent hospitals.

Inspector in charge of the police camp at DMCH Hospital Md. Faruk said 35 injured people were brought to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College from Jatrabari.

"Most of them have injuries in their heads and bodies. A student of Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College was shot in the stomach. His condition is critical," he added.

The injured students from Suhrawardy College include HSC first-year students Rajib, Shahedul, Ashiqul, Rohan, Samrat, and Joy. From Kabi Nazrul Government College, the injured include HSC first-year students Rana, Maruf, Hasinur, Sifat, Jahedul, Asif Mahmud, Sakir, Zubayer Rahman Sajjad, Saikat, and Zarif, HSC second-year students Arafat and Maruf, Honors first-year students Anupam Das, Jewel Islam, and Naeem, as well as Honors second-year student Sumon.

Other injured students are from various institutions, including Imperial College first-year student Humayun (20); Salimullah College HSC first-year students Ruman (19) and Noman (20), along with HSC second-year students Saidul Islam (19), Anoy (21), and Abdur Rahman (20); and Honors second-year student Rajib (24). Additionally, Nafi (18), an HSC first-year student of Mahbubur Rahman Molla College, and Ishtiaq (22) were also injured.

Further victims include Tasrif (18), an SSC examinee of Dolaipar AK School; Mahim Hossain (15), a ninth-grade student of Donia Bright School; and Arafat (19), an HSC first-year student of Rajarbagh Police Line School and College.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said no one was killed in the clash between students of Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College and Kabi Nazrul College, and Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College.

They have requested everyone to refrain from spreading "misinformation".

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC) of DMP's Media and Public Relations Division Muhammad Talebur Rahman confirmed the matter in the evening.

Earlier on Sunday, Dr Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College students carried out extensive vandalism and looting on Dhaka National Medical College and Shaheed Suhrawardy College campuses.

Dr Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College students claimed a student named Avijit Hawlader died due to wrong treatment at Dhaka National Medical College earlier.

Witnesses said Dr Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College came under attack in retaliation for Sunday's attacks.

The unrest led to the deployment of six platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to restore order, confirmed BGB spokesperson Shariful Islam at 3:30pm on the day.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers initially faced little resistance. However, Mollah College students and local residents later retaliated, leading to further violence. Traffic in the area came to a standstill, with severe congestion spilling over to surrounding roads.

Despite prior warnings of the attack, the witnesses said, law enforcement's response appeared inadequate.

Footage showed marauders freely looting and damaging college property. The DMP claimed their officers were on high alert, but their presence on the ground was minimal.

In response, police filed cases against 7,000-8,000 students, accusing them of vandalising public property, stealing ammunition, and causing damage to police vehicles, with losses estimated over Tk 0.27 million.

The government has urged students to eschew further act of violence and warned of strict action against anyone inciting unrest.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam, stated that "any attempt to destabilise educational institutions will be dealt with firmly".

UCB (United Colleges of Bangladesh) is behind the attack on Dr Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College (DMRC) in Demra. UCB Managing Board member Nafis Mollah has claimed that such a statement by the college authorities is a "conspiracy to hide the real culprits".

He said, "UCB is a non-political and social welfare organisation. We do welfare work in 81 colleges in the capital. Recently, in the incident of the death of Dr Mahabubur Rahman Mollah College student Abhijit and the negligence of the hospital authorities, the organization 'DMRC' gave moral support to the students' movement and only gave moral support to Monday's programme and gave status on the Facebook. Apart from this, UCB was not involved in any fuel or incitement".

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