Published : 27 Jan 2025, 08:37 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 12:32 PM
Four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh, or BGB, have been deployed to the streets to stifle violent clashes following a tense standoff between Dhaka University students and those of its affiliated seven colleges.
Police also fired sound grenades to disperse the warring groups.
DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed told journalists after Sunday midnight, “The administration of seven colleges will be contacted to bring the situation under control.”
BGB spokesperson Shariful Islam said in a message, "Four platoons of BGB have been deployed to maintain order and provide assistance to police."
Earlier on Sunday evening, students of seven colleges blocked Shahbagh, Science Laboratory, and Technical intersections to press home a five-point charter of demand.
They said they had gone to meet DU Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Mamun Ahmed to present some demands, but he insulted them. In protest, they took to the streets.
Abdur Rahman, a Dhaka College student and the focal person for the movement to transform the seven colleges into a university, said: “The pro-vice-chancellor must apologise to the students of the seven colleges. If he comes and apologises now, we will clear the roads.”
Later, around 11:15pm, the protesters started marching towards the university campus following a blockade at the capital’s Science Laboratory intersection.
When the protesting students reached the university, the students of Dhaka College joined them. They massed outside the university’s Mukti O Gonotontro Toron after marching through the capital’s Nilkhet intersection.
At one point, they said they were moving towards the residence of the DU pro-vice chancellor. They brandished sticks and demanded that "Prof Mamun Ahmed apologise to the students for his statement".
Meanwhile, on the news of their programme, DU students from residential halls wielding sticks gathered outside the university's Sir AF Rahman Hall.
When the two sides came face-to-face on Sunday night, they began to hurl brickbats at each other. At one stage, the Dhaka University students chased the protesters from seven colleges away towards New Market's Gate No. 4, triggering a running battle between the groups.
Police later used stun grenades to get things under control.
Tensions were running high in the university's Mukti O Gonotontro Toron and Nilkhet intersection areas even around 1:30am on Monday.
DU CLASSES, EXAMINATIONS SUSPENDED
The Dhaka University administration has suspended all classes and examinations scheduled for Monday.
In a press release, spokesperson Md Rafiqul Islam said: "The clashes continued until 2 am, creating a tense situation in the area. As a result, Monday's classes and examinations have been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances."
DU PRO-VC URGES PATIENCE
Speaking to the media at his residence at Dhaka University on Sunday midnight, Pro-Vice Chancellor Mamun urged all stakeholders to be patient.
"It is regrettable that the discussion with the students of seven colleges at my office in the evening has led to an unexpected incident at night. I'm deeply saddened by it.
“I believe this misunderstanding will be resolved through mutual discussions in a fair environment. I sincerely appeal to all parties to be patient in order to defuse the tension that erupted between the students of Dhaka University and the seven colleges over the incident."
