CU situation under control as villagers leave
Over 500 members of the Army, RAB, BGB, and police are currently at the scene, police officials say
Members of the Bangladesh Army, RAB, and BGB reached Chittagong University managed to bring violent clashes at Chittagong University under control this afternoon (31 August).
Although the situation is calm now, several hundred students continue to gather at Gate No 2, keeping tensions high across the campus.
The members of law enforcement agencies reached the campus around 3:30pm and brought the situation under control by 5:30pm.
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"More than 500 members of the Army, RAB, BGB, and police are currently at the scene. The villagers have left, but students remain at Gate No 2. Section 144 is in force, and law enforcement is working to stabilise the situation." Mohammad Russell, additional superintendent of police (DB and industry) and spokesperson for Chattogram District Police, told TBS around 6pm.
He said the exact number of injured is not yet confirmed.
According to CU administration and locals, around 700 people including 400 students and 300 villagers were injured in the clashes at university.
A total of 107 have been admitted in Chattogram Medical College Hospital, 24 in Park View Hospital and 10, including 7 members of police in Hathazari Upazila Health Complex.
Besides, five journalists who went to cover the event also sustained injuries during the clash.
Md Elias Chowdhury, deputy director of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, told The Business Standard, "Thirty patients were admitted last night and 77 today. They are receiving treatment in the neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and casualty wards."
However, Dr Farhana Yasmin of CU Medical Centre claimed that the facility treated around 1,500 injured from last night to till this evening. Of the injured 500 were sent to CHCM for advanced treatment, the rest of them were released after providing primary treatment.
She said at least 10 injured who were referred to hospitals were in critical condition.
Section 144 will be in force in the campus and the adjacent areas until Monday evening and sufficient members of law enforcers will be deployed to avoid further untoward incidents, said Additional SP Mohammad Russel, spokesperson of district police.
Local UP member Abdul Quader claimed that more than 300 villagers, including women and children, were injured in the clash and following attack launched by the students. He alleged that the students looted and vandalised houses during the attack.
Unrest escalated in the university for the second day, as clashes erupted again between students and locals near the university's Gate 2 earlier today, leaving at least 400 students along with Pro-Vice-Chancellor (administration) Md Kamal Uddin and Proctor Prof Tanvir Mohammad Haydar injured.
