Is campus violence back again?

It was just seven months ago when university campuses across the country erupted in violence as the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League swooped in on anti-quota protesters. But following the ouster of the Awami League regime, campuses mostly remained peaceful. 

But yesterday (18 February), a violent clash erupted at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) between students and activists from the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) and members of the Jatiotabadi Chatradal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP. 

The confrontation began when JCD initiated a campaign on the campus, prompting protests from students demanding a ban on student politics. Later, allegedly when three JCD activists were beaten, JCD and local Jubodol cadres attacked the students, injuring at least 100. Armed forces were deployed to restore order, but the environment at KUET remains tense. 

So, are the days of campus violence and bloodshed back? 

Blame games are definitely back

A leader of the protesting students, requesting anonymity, said, "When SAD announced a committee at KUET, JCD wanted to follow suit. But the decision was later scrapped. JCD's excuse was that Islami Chhatra Shibir [ICS] are secretly operating on the campus, so yesterday, when JCD started to distribute leaflets, it escalated. 

"You can accuse anyone of anything," he further said, "But it is no excuse to bring in outside muscle to attack hundreds of students. JCD started the attack first, and it is very unfortunate and shameful."

Meanwhile, JCD leaders have accused the SAD of instigating the violence, claiming the former's supporters were the victims.

The office secretary of Dhaka University JCD Mallik Wasi Uddin Tami expressed deep condolences for the injured students and demanded justice against the perpetrators, regardless of their political affiliations. 

"Three JCD supporters — Rahul Javed, Ifaz and Yusuf — were attacked unprovoked as they passed by the procession after finishing their classes. The video footage shows certain protesters suddenly charging at them," Wasi Tami said. 

"The three attacked students are regular undergraduate students at KUET as no official JCD committee has been formed there, and membership registration has not begun. Now, there is a list circulating with names of alleged JCD members; who are in fact BNP supporters. You cannot expel anyone for just their political orientation, can you?" he questioned. 

"Suppose, you are a regular student activist. You go out and ask the local people to fight for you. Will anyone come unless the locals were under attack first or their stores were vandalised?" Wasi further said. 

"We are not toning anything down. We want justice. But blaming JCD in the whole incident is not justified. The accused local Jubodal leader has been expelled. If any JCD activist is found guilty, JCD itself will file cases against him. But we need the proof. Without proof, we cannot file cases against JCD supporters just for supporting us, can we?" he added. 

The office secretary of SAD, Zahid Ahsan, vehemently criticised the role of JCD in the clash, "When Chhatra League attacked the students in the DU campus on 15 July 2024, it sparked the July Uprising. We never expected another incident where students are bloodied and injured. 

"The most frustrating part is that JCD activists and leaders are trying to justify the attack by tagging the students as Shibir activists, as if it is okay to beat them up," he said. "We are seeing a return of the tagging culture. Only a consensus among the student organisations to abandon the old way of violence and bloodshed can prevent its resurgence." 

Central Publication Secretary and Former President of the Dhaka University Chhatra Shibir Md Abu Shadik Kayem also condemned the JCD and the alleged involvement of ICS in the clash. 

"After 5 August, we wanted a reform in our student politics. We hoped that there would be no more violence; the parties would try to engage in meritocracy and enlightened politics. You will not find a single statement of our leadership that promotes violence and chaos. But unfortunately, we have been labelled as a 'banned organisation' and 'secret organisation', even by responsible leaders," he said.

BSL cadres used to attack the students like this, Shadik added. "The students have rejected such vicious politics. We are talking about a new political settlement and there is no place for such bloodshed here." 

When asked about the claim that the attackers were non-students, he said, "If there were outsiders who attacked the students, then it must be investigated who called them here." 

Meghmallar Bosu, president of Bangladesh Students Union Dhaka University chapter, demanded proper investigation and ensuring swift justice.

"Bringing outside cadres to attack the students is completely outrageous. Swift justice must be ensured by the state, whether the BNP [parent organisation of JCD] takes any action against them or not." 

At the same time, he protested the university's decision to ban politics on campus and permanently expel and revoke the studentship of any student involved in political activities. 

"It is not democratic. We are concerned about the rights of students to engage in politics as much as we are concerned about campus violence." 

President of the Revolutionary Students Unity Dilip Roy also expressed concern about the growing violence. 

"What happened in KUET is the usual characteristic of bourgeois politics in Bangladesh. We don't want another fascist on our campuses. We don't want the terrorising of students in the name of politics," he said.

Response to the violence

Later last night, the protesting students locked academic buildings, suspended classes and exams, and issued a six-point demand, including a complete ban on student politics, punishment for attackers, and the resignation of key university officials. 

They accused Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Masud of administrative failure, leading to a physical altercation where students reportedly threw shoes at him and locked him in a room. The VC later fell ill and was hospitalised, along with other officials.

Mahbubur Rahman, vice president of the Daulatpur Thana unit of the Jubodal's Khulna district branch, who was seen holding a machete in a viral video, has been expelled for attacking students. 

The KUET authority held an emergency syndicate meeting today (19 February), deciding to shut down the university until 28 February and uphold the ban on campus politics. Students found engaging in politics will face expulsion, and staff involved in political activities will be terminated, authorities said. 

The situation remains tense, with students continuing their sit-in protest and demanding accountability.

SAD announced a video exhibition displaying the oppression during the July uprising and the KUET clash on big screens in various campuses across the country today (19 February).