Politics heats up in Ctg after Chhatra Dal-Shibir clash over 'gupto' graffiti

Tensions have escalated in Chattogram's political landscape following repeated clashes between activists of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir over altering a graffiti at Government City College. 

The heat has spread beyond the city, reaching the National Parliament and public universities across the country, including Rajshahi, Dhaka, and Chattogram, where the two groups have held counter-protests. Once allies in joint movements, the organisations now stand in direct confrontation nationwide.

Although exams are ongoing at the college, classes have been suspended, and Section 144 has been imposed on campus. Additional police have been deployed at key points, including New Market, to prevent further violence.

The violence was triggered after a video circulated on social media showing the word "student" erased and replaced with "Gupto" on a wall that originally read "student politics- and Chhatra League-free campus." Tensions escalated from verbal altercations in the morning to clashes around noon, with both sides blaming each other.

Both sides claimed that at least 20 people were injured in yesterday's (21 April) clashes, though no case has yet been filed with local police stations.

Later that night, an office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's affiliate – the Workers' Welfare Federation – was allegedly vandalised in the Pahartali area.

Meanwhile, former Dhaka University Central Students' Union vice-president Sadiq Kayem visited injured Shibir activists at Parkview Hospital.

Chhatra Dal announced a protest rally at the railway station grounds today (22 April), while Shibir held a press conference at its Jamal Khan office, blaming BNP and Chhatra Dal for the vandalism and demanding justice.

Though the situation briefly calmed yesterday afternoon, it flared up again when Shibir brought out a protest march. Around 4pm, as a procession from New Market headed toward the college, Chhatra Dal activists stationed there chased them, leading to renewed violence.

Shibir's Chattogram south unit claimed at least 15 of its activists were injured, including Ashraf Hossain, who reportedly lost part of his heel and was admitted to Parkview Hospital.

According to police at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, a student named Sami Md Alaudin was also treated for a head injury before being discharged.

Officer-in-Charge Md Aftab Uddin of Kotwali Police Station said additional forces have been deployed and the situation is now under control. CMP Assistant Commissioner (Media) Aminur Rashid confirmed increased police presence in surrounding areas, including City College, New Market, Chakbazar, Mohsin College, and Chattogram College, while detectives are working to identify those involved.

College principal Professor Abu Saleh Mohammad Nur Uddin said the situation is currently normal, with public exams continuing despite the suspension of internal academic activities.

Established in 1954 as Chattogram Night College, the institution was long under the control of Bangladesh Chhatra League. After 5 August 2024, students declared the campus free of political influence. Later that year, Chhatra Shibir formed a committee, followed by increased activity by Chhatra Dal – leading to ongoing tensions over campus control.