Arson, clashes as Daffodil, City University students face off in Savar

“A few Daffodil students set fires on our campus,” one City University student said. “Several vehicles were torched.”

Students of Daffodil International University and City University have clashed overnight in Dhaka’s Savar.

The violence continued between 9pm on Sunday and 4am on Monday in the Khagan area of Birulia Union, said Sub-Inspector Abdul Wahab of Savar Model Police Station.

Students and local residents who witnessed the incident said that a Daffodil University student had argued with a group of City University students in front of a building named “Bachelor Paradise” on Sunday evening.

Then, around 9pm, nearly 50 City University students carrying sticks, bats, and brickbats attacked and vandalised the home of the Daffodil University student.

But City University students claim that the violence sparked because a City University student had spat off the roof of a building and it hit a Daffodil University student standing below. They claim the issue was initially resolved, but Daffodil University students grew agitated and attacked City University.

They say City University’s administrative building, canteen, and residential halls have been vandalised and looted. Three buses, a car, and two motorcycles have been torched. Several other vehicles were vandalised as well.

City University students claim the campus attack was “planned” as Daffodil University students broke through the boundary wall and entered. Several students of City University were injured with sticks in the clash. They are being treated at various hospitals.

City University Registrar Akhter Hossain told bdnews24.com at 4:30am, “Students of Daffodil University, which is next to our campus in Birulia, have clashed with our students over some issue.

“Some students of Daffodil have set fires on our campus. They have burnt several vehicles.”

The clash started around midnight, the registrar said.

SI Wahab of Savar Model Police Station’s Birulia Outpost said, “The conflict between students of the two universities started over a trivial incident. When the police reached the spot and tried to resolve the matter, the situation seemed to be calming down.

“However, during the discussion, City University students beat up a Daffodil University student. Tensions flared between the two sides and a clash broke out.”

Then, Daffodil University students attacked City University, causing widespread vandalism and setting vehicles on fire.

Although City University students claimed that many of their classmates had been injured in the clash, SI Wahab could not confirm it.

He said that law enforcers are working to determine whether anyone was injured in the incident. Although the situation is currently calm, tensions are still simmering.

City and Daffodil University authorities were contacted over the issue, but declined to comment.