VC among 14 injured in Barishal University clash over football match

The university plans to sit with students from both sides to settle the issue

A clash has ensued between students of two departments at Barishal University over a football match.

The incident occurred around 7pm on Friday outside the BITAC building near the campus, leaving Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Toufiq Alam and 14 students injured.

Three of them were admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Students said an argument began in the afternoon during a match at the BITAC field between a group from the 12th batch of accounting and information systems and a 10th batch student from marketing.

The ‘senior’ student was forced to apologise by the accounting students.

As word spread, several classmates of the marketing student went to the field, where they were beaten by the accounting students. Three of them were injured, two requiring hospital treatment.

Afterwards, marketing students gathered at the university’s main gate, while accounting students assembled near the BITAC building.

When the marketing group moved towards BITAC, clashes erupted between the two sides. The confrontation lasted about an hour, injuring at least 10 more people.

VC Prof Toufiq, who went to the spot to calm tensions, was struck by a brick and injured.

Later, Proctor Rahat Hossain Faisal and Assistant Proctor Alamgir Hossain, along with teachers from both departments, intervened and restored order.

Marketing student Mostaq Ahmed said: “We saw in a group message that Faisal was being beaten. When we tried to stop it, we were also surrounded. I managed to escape afterwards.”

Several accounting students said they were ready for a settlement but declined to comment further on the incident.

Proctor Rahat said: “Some students from both sides have been injured. [On Saturday] we will sit with them to try to resolve the matter.”