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Published : 27 Oct 2025, 10:58 PM
A tense calm has descended on Savar’s Khagan after a night of clashes, vandalism and arson between students of Daffodil International University and City University.
By Monday morning, the City University campus lay in ruins -- vehicles burnt, classrooms trashed, and fear lingering among students.
Although no case had been filed as of Monday afternoon, both universities were reportedly preparing to lodge complaints.
The university authorities announced a suspension of all academic activities until Nov 4, instructing students to vacate four residential halls by Monday evening, according to a notice signed by Registrar Prof Mir Akhter Hossain.
City University officials accused Daffodil students of storming their campus with “gunpowder” and looting the accounts office.
“Daffodil students carried out acts of terror. They brought gunpowder, set the gate on fire, and looted our accounts office,” said Administrative Officer Uzzal Sarkar.
The university claimed damages worth Tk 200–250 million from the rampage.
Dhaka Additional Police Superintendent (Crime and Ops) Md Arafatul Islam said: “The students fought among themselves. Police are on the spot. The fighting and vandalism happened overnight. We are looking into what triggered it.
“The situation outside is under control, but we haven’t been able to enter the campus yet.”
HOW IT BEGAN
Students and teachers from both universities said the clash began on Sunday evening over a spitting incident.
Students from City University were sitting near the Bachelor Paradise Hostel, a rented mess for Daffodil students, when one of them spat inadvertently, hitting a Daffodil student passing by on a motorbike.
A heated exchange followed. Around 9pm, some 50 City University students armed with sticks and brickbats attacked the house, damaging property.
When videos of the attack spread on social media, Daffodil students rushed to the scene and later advanced towards City University.
Both sides pelted brickbats and chased each other in retaliation.
Members of Daffodil’s proctorial team arrived and urged City University authorities to intervene and resolve the matter.
City University Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Lutfar Rahman said: “The incident began when a City and a Daffodil student clashed over a spitting incident on Sunday night. The matter was settled by 10pm.
“But from 10pm to 4am, a large number of Daffodil students attacked our campus.”
Syed Mizanur Rahman, director of External Affairs Cell at Daffodil, said: “It was accidental -- the spit landed on a Daffodil student, and they settled it with an apology. But the later attack on our students’ mess was unacceptable.
“Students of both universities are our children -- we’re working to resolve the issue.”
City University Proctor Prof Abu Zayed, however, said: “We’re still not certain how it started. But how could a student quarrel turn into campus arson? This was premeditated. Around 50 of our students were injured.”
SCENES OF DEVASTATION
Police and witnesses said Daffodil students broke through City University’s boundary wall after midnight, vandalising and setting fire to vehicles parked inside.
At the gate, burn marks and debris were visible, with broken glass and wooden furniture scattered across the premises.
At least three buses, five microbuses and one private car were torched, while two microbuses and two motorbikes were smashed. Smoke was still rising from some vehicles on Monday morning.
Almost every floor of the building was littered with broken glass, documents and furniture. Chairs, tables, computers, printers, air conditioners and washroom fixtures were destroyed.
A City University student said, “They attacked sleeping students, came armed, tried to break into the girls’ hall gate and threw bricks that hit female students. They destroyed our entire campus.”
Prof Bimal Chandra Das, dean of Daffodil’s Faculty of Science and Information Technology, visited the campus on Monday noon to retrieve students who had been trapped inside.
After seeing the destruction, he said: “I’m deeply ashamed and sorry for what has happened. Such devastation by students at an educational institution is beyond our imagination. Whoever is responsible must be punished.”
‘LACK’ OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
City University Associate Professor Md Arifuzzaman alleged that the administration failed to respond to repeated calls for help.
“From midnight to 4:30am, we begged for support. They [Daffodil students] came and burnt down our campus, injured hundreds, and we received no help from law enforcers,” he said.
“They reached all the way to Khagan and destroyed everything. No one came to protect us. Thousands of students were trapped. We felt completely helpless.”
VC Lutfor also said, “We informed police, but no assistance came. Around 25–26 of our students are hospitalised, and nearly a hundred more were injured. This was not student behaviour.”
SI Abdul Wahab, Savar Model Police Station’s Birulia Outpost in-charge, said: “The dispute started between the two groups of students. When police arrived, the situation was calming down, but it escalated again after Daffodil students were reportedly attacked near City University.”
DAFFODIL STUDENTS FREED
Several Daffodil students were detained inside the City University campus during the attack.
Two Daffodil teachers later arrived to retrieve them, and nine students were released into their custody.
Daffodil Proctor Shaikh Muhammad Allayear said, “Nine of our students were held. Around 150 of our students were injured. We are working to resolve the issue peacefully.”
