Another student unrest brewing in Bangladesh? Over 300 injured in Chittagong University clashes

Bangladesh’s Chittagong University (CU) has been witnessing protests, with students and residents clashing, leaving hundreds injured, including faculty members and administrative officials.

The unrest, which began last week, was triggered after a female student was allegedly assaulted by a security guard for returning late to her accommodation. The incident sparked outrage among students, leading to violent confrontations with villagers from the surrounding areas. More than 300 people have been injured as a result of the clashes.

Dr Md Tipu Sultan, senior medical officer of the university medical centre, said, “I have never seen so many students injured in a single day. I personally treated nearly a hundred students, while several critically injured were referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.”

The situation prompted the Hathazari upazila administration to impose Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which bans public gatherings in specific areas to prevent further escalation.

All classes and examinations at the university remain suspended. Despite the restrictions under Section 144, reports indicate that students came out of their residential halls throughout the day, staging demonstrations at various points on campus. Large contingents of army and police personnel have been deployed across CU to maintain order and prevent further outbreaks of violence, according to a report by the Business Standard. 

Speaking to the media, Prof Momtaz Uddin Ahmed, Acting Controller of Examinations, said, “Considering the situation, academic activities have been suspended for today as well. A decision on whether classes and exams will resume tomorrow will be taken later.”

The university administration is expected to hold further meetings with law enforcement and local officials to determine the next course of action. Students have demanded a formal investigation into the original incident involving the female student and increased protection for those living in off-campus accommodations.