Explainer: How violence unfolded between students of DU, 7 affiliated colleges

At least 50 students were injured in a clash between students of Dhaka University (DU) and its seven affiliated colleges in the capital's Mirpur Road area last night (27 January).

The violence erupted after a group of students from the seven colleges went to meet the Pro-Vice Chancellor of DU, Professor Mamun Ahmed, to learn about the progress of their five-point demands, which included removing the quota system during admissions into the colleges.

According to media reports, Pro-VC Mamun became agitated at one point during the meeting, asking the students why so many of them entered his office instead of only two.

In response, one of the students told him only two students would not be able to explain the demands and that the other students would not accept the outcome unless they were present.

A heated argument ensued as the pro-VC became enraged during the verbal exchanges.

In protest of Mamun's aggressive behaviour, students of seven colleges started to gather at the Science Lab area in the evening, demanding an apology from the pro-VC.

The demand for an apology from the pro-VC was included in the already existing five-point demand, and around 10pm, the students of seven colleges started marching towards Mamun's residence.

The previous five-point demands were: cancelling the quota system during admissions into the seven colleges starting from 2024-25 session, not admitting students beyond the capacity of the classrooms, admitting students according to the teacher-student ratio, including negative markings during admission tests and depositing the admissions fees into a separate account out of the purview of DU authority.

Around 10:30pm, the students of the seven colleges gathered in front of DU's Mukti Toron, the entry point near Nilkhet Book Market.

Upon hearing the news, DU's AF Rahman Hall students came out on the streets with sticks in their hands and positioned themselves at the entry point adjacent to Nilkhet.

Police put up barricades at Mukti Toron to bring the situation under control, which the college students broke.

The violence began after DU students who had positioned themselves at the university's entry point started to chase the college students.

Being chased, the college students backtracked and went back towards Dhaka College. The DU students continued the chase while police tried to put up barricades at Nilkhet Intersection to pacify the two groups.

After some time, the college students returned and started throwing brickbats towards DU students. Police backtracked, and the college students chased the DU students back towards Mukti Toron.

The chase-counter chase continued, which forced police to use sound grenades. Around 12:30am, the number of police members was increased, who fired tear shells and more sound grenades to disperse the students from both sides.

The students from the seven colleges lit fire on the street stretching from Gausia Market to Dhaka College and continued their protest.

Meanwhile, Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, went to the area to talk with the students and end the violence. His presence did not tame the conflict; rather, he was portrayed as 'fake' by the students, and a fistfight ensued between the two groups, forcing Hasnat to return to the DU campus.

Around this time, students from Eden Women's College came out on the streets. They joined the students from the seven colleges, alleging that DU students had wrongfully attacked the college students, and that's why they had come out in solidarity with their brothers.

Although the Assistant Proctor of DU Rafiqul Islam tried to make peace several times, the students did not pay heed to him.

Failing to end the conflict, the assistant proctor returned to his residence around 12:45am.

More than 200 police members and four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were deployed in the area surrounding the DU campus, Nilkhet and New Market.

In a video message at midnight, Pro-VC Mamun termed the incident unfortunate, saying he deeply regretted it and hoped that the problem would be solved through discussions in a proper setting.

Meanwhile, all the classes and exams at DU and the seven affiliated colleges have been cancelled for today (27 January), said a press release by DU authority.

In a press conference at 12pm today, students of the seven colleges gave a four-hour ultimatum for the resignation of DU Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamun Ahmed and the implementation of five fresh demands.

The demands also include an apology from DU authorities and punishment of policemen involved in last night's incident.

The students also demanded the ending of academic and administrative ties between DU and the seven affiliated colleges and an announcement of a separate university for them within the next 24 hours.