Dhaka University, the centre of political activities in Bangladesh, suspended all classes and examinations on Monday due to clashes between students of the university with Dhaka College and six other colleges last night. Several students were injured during the clashes among the students and batons charged by the police to disperse them.
Four platoons of Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB), along with police assistance, have been deployed as students from both sides locked in sporadic clashes of chase and counter-chase for several hours, BGB PRO Shariful Islam confirmed.
Due to unavoidable circumstances, the authorities decided to suspend all examinations and classes scheduled for Monday, Dhaka University PRO Mohammad Rafiqul Islam confirmed.
At around 10 pm, students of Dhaka College tried to enter the DU area with a protest march, aiming at surrounding the office of the DU Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Mamun Ahmed. When this news spread, students from several DU dormitories started to come out to resist them, reports United News of Bangladesh(UNB).
Students from both sides engaged in chase and counter-chase for several hours. They took positions, throwing bricks and stones at each other in the Nilkhet and New Market areas of Dhaka. To control the situation, the police used 12 rounds of sound grenades and stood between the two sides with water cannons and tear gas, reports UNB.
The incident began on Sunday afternoon when students from the seven colleges went to Prof Mamun Ahmed, Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor, with a five-point demand which included the abolition of the unjust quota system in the admission test, no student be admitted beyond the classroom capacity and that the teacher-student ratio be considered during admission.
They were not satisfied with his handling of the matter leading to the late night clashes.
