Student clash prompts two-day class suspension at Dhaka College, City College

Dhaka College and Dhaka City College have been declared closed for Wednesday and Thursday following clashes between students from the two educational institutions.

The decision to suspend academic activities was taken on Tuesday afternoon after hours of tension at the Science Laboratory intersection.

“Classes for all levels – Higher Secondary, Honours, and Master’s – will remain suspended on Wednesday and Thursday,” ASM Mujahedul Islam, associate professor of geography at Dhaka College, told bdnews24.com.

“Practical and viva exams for Honours and Master’s students will continue as per the existing schedule.”

Dhaka City College issued a notice signed by its acting principal, Professor FM Mubarak Hossain, confirming the suspension of all classes on both days.

Clashes erupted around midday between students of the two colleges and continued for nearly four hours.

By 4pm, students had retreated from the streets and the situation began to return to normal, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Assistant Commissioner (Dhanmondi Zone) Shah Mostofa Tariquzzaman.

“We will speak with the authorities of both colleges very soon,” he added.

The meeting aims to prevent further confrontations between students of the two neighbouring institutions.

Describing the incident, New Market Police Station chief Mohsin Uddin told bdnews24.com that the unrest began when Dhaka College students hurled brickbats near City College around noon.

"Apparently, a Dhaka College student was beaten by City College students on Monday. Dhaka College students retaliated by beating a City College student on Tuesday, triggering the clash,” said OC Mohsin.

Tensions quickly flared into a back-and-forth chase, with brickbats being thrown from both sides.

Eventually, students armed with sticks gathered at key points.

A large number of police personnel were deployed at the Science Laboratory intersection.

During their efforts to disperse the students, Dhaka College students reportedly removed the City College nameplate, reigniting tensions.

Police resorted to baton charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

But later, City College students regrouped outside their campus, while Dhaka College students occupied near the Science Lab intersection, with unrest stretching into the afternoon.

Several injured students sought treatment at Popular Hospital in Dhanmondi, with six of them later transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), according to Inspector Md Faruk of the hospital’s police outpost.

The DMCH-admitted students included Adib, Liyon, and Rajin, all identified with single names, as well as Fazle Hasan, Ahsan Shamim and Nazmus Sakib.