Police deployed at Chattogram City College, monitoring at other educational institutions

A conflict sparked by graffiti on campus had led to clashes between the student wings of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami

Police have been deployed on the campus of Govt City College, Chattogram after a clash between members of the Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal and the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wings of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami respectively.

Police have also increased surveillance at other educational institutions in the city.

Although there were no classes at Govt City College today, police personnel could be seen on the campus.

In the afternoon, the college’s principal also held a meeting with teachers to decide on a course of action.

Meanwhile, Dhaka University Central Students Union Vice President and Shibir Central International Affairs Secretary Abu Shadik Kayem met the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) commissioner in Laldighi in the afternoon and demanded the arrest of those involved in Tuesday's attack.

Later, CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Showkat Ali told reporters that a police operation is underway to arrest those involved.

"We will take legal action against whoever is involved. So far, we have not received any written complaint or any such case from anyone,” he said.

"What you have described as police negligence - if there is any, we will investigate it. If there is, we will take action according to the rules."

Asked about makeshift weapons being used in front of police personnel during Tuesday's clash, the CMP chief said, "Our operation is underway. Of course, we will take action after examining the footage. Our operation is underway. We are trying."

Following the City College incident on Tuesday, protests were held in different places in Chattogram. The protests continued into Wednesday as well. Asked whether there was any “risk” of unrest, the CMP commissioner said: "We have taken adequate preparations at educational institutions so that such incidents do not spread and so that such problems do not worsen. We are monitoring all educational institutions and sufficient personnel have been deployed."

After a meeting with college teachers at 2:30pm, City College Principal Abu Saleh Mohammad Nayeem Uddin told reporters: "We have held a meeting with the teachers. We have decided that outsiders will not be allowed to enter the college campus.

"We have sought the police administration's assistance in this regard. They said that they will provide us with assistance as long as is necessary."

Principal Nayeem said that a committee has been formed to investigate Tuesday's incident.

"We have given them seven days. They will investigate and tell us what happened and why," he said.

He added that the situation on campus was normal on Wednesday, but no classes were being held.

Several people were injured in a clash between the Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir on campus on Tuesday. Witnesses said that Chhatra Shibir had painted graffiti on the campus, writing below it “Student Politics and a Chhatra League-free Campus”.

The graffiti was then defaced as black paint was used to strike out the word “Student” and the word “Secret” was written above it. Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists took to social media in heated debate over the graffiti and its defacing, leading to escalating tensions and scuffles on campus.

In protest, Chhatra Shibir called for a protest rally at the New Market intersection in the afternoon. When the leaders and activists of Chhatra Shibir began marching towards the college from the gathering spot, a clash broke out between the two sides.

The two sides chased each other and hurled stones and brickbats. Traffic was brought to a halt and shops closed amid the unrest.