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Published : 27 Aug 2025, 08:39 PM
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Vice-Chancellor Prof Abu Borhan Mohammad Badruzzaman has described the police attack against engineering students in Dhaka’s Shahbagh as “unacceptable”.
Speaking to the protesting students while visiting them in Shahbagh on Wednesday evening, he demanded a full investigation into the incident and called for those responsible for attacking the students to be brought to justice.
Borhan said, “Several of our students have been injured by tear gas, baton charges, and rubber bullets. We have sent as many ambulances as possible to take them to medical centres, where they are receiving treatment.”
Many students left after receiving initial treatment, Prof Borhan said.
Pro-VC Abdul Hasib Chowdhury and Education Advisor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar met students on Tuesday to hear their demands.
“A committee was formed to that end,” he added.
The move backfired. Students rejected the body, chanting “fake, fake” when the vice-chancellor mentioned it.
“If my own students call me fake, I have nothing to say,” Prof Borhan responded.
He said two advisors were now at Rail Bhaban to hold “proper discussions” with the students and push for punishment of those who had attacked them.
Engineering students from BUET and other universities have been protesting for days.
They want recognition of BSc graduates as engineers through competitive exams, an end to quota-based promotions, and exclusive use of the “Engineer” title for BSc graduates.
On Tuesday, they blocked Shahbagh for five hours and declared a “long march to Dhaka”.
By Wednesday morning, they were back on the streets, paralysing traffic from 11am.
At 1:30pm, police fired stun grenades and tear gas as students marched towards the chief advisor’s residence. Running battles broke out.
By late afternoon, protesters regrouped at Shahbagh.
At a 5:30pm briefing, they accused police of attacking them and vowed to continue their sit-in.
They also issued five demands, including an apology from the home advisor over the police action.
