Students of DU, 7 colleges clash late into night
Hundreds of students of Dhaka University and its seven affiliated colleges chased each other past 1:30am today.
The college students began protesting in the evening and it soon led to a stand-off between them and DU students late into the night.
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As the groups clashed with each other close to midnight in the Nilkhet area, police used stun grenades and teargas to prevent violence from escalating.
Several students sustained minor injuries.
DU in a statement said all classes and exams has been suspended for today.
The college students blocked the Science Lab intersection on the Mirpur Road in the evening.
Their demands include separate admission exams for the affiliated colleges and abolition of quotas in the admission test.
Some of them told reporters that when they met DU Pro-VC Prof Mamun Ahmed to ask when their five-point demand would be met, he misbehaved with them. They blocked the intersection in response to that.
Dhaka College student Abdur Rahman told The Daily Star, "He humiliated our students and drove them out [of his office]. If the teacher apologises publicly, we will leave the road."
Contacted, Pro-VC Mamun Ahmed said, "Around 50-60 students of seven Dhaka University-affiliated colleges came to my office. I asked them to send two representatives instead. At that time, they all forcibly entered the office room.
"I sternly told them if they wanted to behave like a 'mob', I won't address their concerns," he added.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (New Market zone) Tarique Latif said in the evening that at least 200 students blocked the Science Lab intersection leading to a heavy traffic congestion in the adjoining areas.
They advanced towards Nilkhet as the evening progressed. Students of Eden College also gathered at the New Market intersection after 12:30am.
Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the Students Against Discrimination, then went to the scene to calm the DU students when the groups were chasing each other and throwing brick chips at each other.
The DU authorities called a meeting with the principals of the seven colleges at the DU VC's office today, said a notice issued by DU public relations office.
Late into the night, Pro-VC Mamun issued a video statement saying, "The events that unfolded following my interaction with the students of the seven colleges is unfortunate. This has saddened me deeply. I believe that a healthy communication is key to eradicating this misunderstanding. I request all to be patient while we try to solve this issue."
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