Dhaka University Shuts Down Classes and Exams Amid Student Violence

Dhaka : Dhaka University, a major center of political activity in Bangladesh, suspended all classes and exams on Monday following violent clashes between its students and those from Dhaka College and six other colleges. The confrontations, which occurred late Sunday night, left several students injured and prompted police to use batons and forceful measures to disperse the crowds.

The clashes began when students from Dhaka College attempted to stage a protest march to the Dhaka University campus, targeting the office of the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Mamun Ahmed. This protest stemmed from several demands, including the abolition of what the students considered an unjust quota system for admissions and calls for a fairer teacher-student ratio.

As news of the march spread, students from various Dhaka University dormitories mobilized to resist the protesters. The two groups engaged in chaotic scenes of chase and counter-chase, with students hurling bricks and stones at each other in the Nilkhet and New Market areas of the capital.

To restore order, the authorities deployed four platoons of the Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) along with additional police forces. The police responded by firing sound grenades and deploying water cannons and tear gas in an attempt to control the situation.

The authorities at Dhaka University decided to suspend all academic activities for the day due to the escalating violence and disruption. Dhaka University’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, confirmed the suspension of both the scheduled exams and classes, citing “unavoidable circumstances.”

The protests started earlier in the day on Sunday when students from the seven colleges gathered at the office of Professor Mamun Ahmed to voice their grievances. The students presented a five-point demand that also included issues such as limiting student admissions to classroom capacities and addressing concerns about the quality of education at the university. When their demands were not satisfactorily addressed, tensions quickly escalated, culminating in the late-night clashes.

The situation remains tense, with authorities continuing to monitor the area, and investigations are ongoing into the causes of the unrest. Meanwhile, university officials have called for calm and promised to address the students’ grievances through appropriate channels.