Clashes between Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir over July demonstration banner in BRU

Repeated chases, counter-chases and clashes have occurred between leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Dal over the banner of the ‘July program against oppression’ exhibition at Begum Rokeya University (BRU) in Rangpur.
The clash began at around 9 pm on Monday (August 3) at the university’s Swadhinata Smriti Chattar, which continued intermittently until late at night. As tension spread on the campus, supporters of the two organizations took positions at the junction of the park and the main gate, creating a heated situation.
According to eyewitnesses, the Chhatra Shibir wing had organized the ‘July demonstration against oppression’ at the Swadhinata Smriti Chattar. A banner was hung at the exhibition, which called the hanging of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat leaders Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Quader Mollah and Mir Quasem Ali a ‘judicial killing’.
Around 9pm, Chhatra Dal university branch leaders went and demanded the removal of the banner. When Shibir refused to remove the banner, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists allegedly tore the banner. As a result, first an argument, then a fight and then a chase and counter-chase began between the two parties.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. M Shawkat Ali, Proctor Professor Ferdous Rahman and student advisors reached the spot to bring the situation under control. A compromise meeting with the presidents and general secretaries of the two student organizations began at the VC’s office at 10:15pm, but no solution could be reached. After that, the chase and counter-chase between the two parties started again around 10:30pm. Additional police have been deployed in the campus area to avoid any untoward incident.
University branch Chhatra Shibir president Rakib Murad alleged that pictures of leaders who were victims of judicial killings were displayed in the July program. But the student party leaders came and attacked with local weapons and tried to disrupt the exhibition, and later brought outsiders to carry out the attack.
On the other hand, the student party branch president Mohammad Yamin counter-alleged that the exhibition displayed pictures of war criminals. When asked to remove them, the students’ leaders and activists ambushed our peaceful activists with sticks and weapons.
University Proctor Professor Ferdous Rahman said that strict legal and administrative action will be taken after reviewing the video footage and identifying those involved in the violence. Vice-Chancellor Dr. M. Shawkat Ali said that discussions are underway with leaders of both sides to normalize and calm the situation.