9 injured as JU students clash over shop ownership

At least nine students were injured in a clash between students of two residential halls of Jahangirnagar University over ownership of six shops near the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall today (14 September).

The clash between students of Bishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore Hall and National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall took place around 3:30pm in an area adjacent to Nazrul Hall, witnesses said.

According to eyewitnesses, a dispute over the ownership of six shops in front of Nazrul Hall has been continuing between students of the two halls for several days.

As the shops are located in front of Nazrul Hall, students of the hall have been claiming ownership, while students of Rabindranath Tagore Hall have refused to give up their claim.

Several students said Nazrul Hall students had planned last night to put locks on four of the shops. Tensions escalated this afternoon when several Rabindranath Tagore Hall students gathered on their hall premises.

At one point, students from the two halls got into a scuffle, which later escalated into a clash. The shops were also vandalised during the incident.

Rizwanur Rahman, deputy chief medical officer of the university medical centre, said nine injured students had so far received treatment there.

"Two of them were referred to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar. The others are receiving treatment at the university medical centre," he said.

Assistant Proctor Abdus Sattar Joy said the administration had been trying to resolve the dispute since the morning.

"Discontent had developed between students of Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall and Rabindranath Tagore Hall over the ownership of the shops. The administration took immediate steps and began efforts to reach a settlement while the syndicate meeting was underway," he said.

"Separate meetings were held with students of the two halls from the morning, but Nazrul Hall students were reluctant to attend the final meeting. Meanwhile, the two sides became involved in a clash following provocation by Rabindranath Tagore Hall students. Several students were injured after the shops were vandalised and the situation turned into a physical confrontation. One student suffered a serious head injury and was taken to hospital by ambulance," he added.

University Proctor Professor Zakir Hossain said the injured students had already been taken to hospital by ambulance.

"We are trying to restore normalcy and have taken initiatives to hold discussions with students of both halls. The administration wants the students to return to their respective halls. We hope to reach a decision after the discussions," he said.