DU, Dhaka College students clash near New Market

Published : Monday, 13 October, 2025 at 1:34 PM Count : 14

A clash broke out between students of Dhaka College and residents of Dhaka University's Shahnewaz Hostel, located near the New Market area, early today reportedly over the removal of roadside shops.

Police said the situation came under control around 2:30am.

Jahangir Kabir, assistant commissioner (AC) of New Market Zone Police, said some students of Dhaka College had allegedly tried to remove roadside shops in front of Shahnewaz Hostel to set up a tea stall there. "An altercation broke out, leading to the clash," he said.

"Due to inadequate police presence at night, additional forces had to be called in. The situation was brought under control around 2:30am," the AC added.

Mehraz Zaman Hira, a student of DU's sculpture department and a resident of Shahnewaz Hostel, told that, "Around 1:00am, some Dhaka College students tried to evict the shops in front of the hostel gate and vandalised a few. When our students protested, they attacked us and later returned with more people, pelting brick chips at the hostel and setting off three explosions in front of the dormitory."

Regarding the explosions, AC Jahangir said it was yet to be confirmed whether the explosives were crude bombs. "They appeared to be fireworks-like objects," he added.

Following the incident, students of Shahnewaz hall gathered in front of the DU vice-chancellor's residence, demanding security. They chanted slogans including, "Cocktails in our hall, while the administration sleeps."

Md Rony Sarker, a DU student of graphic design at the dormitory, said, "Dhaka College students tried to occupy the space in front of our hall by setting up shops. When we resisted, they attacked us indiscriminately and confined us for about three hours. They hurled bottles, bricks, and three crude bombs. We got no support from the DU administration."

Around 5:00am, the students returned to the hall after Ducsu leaders and university proctors assured them that the matter would be discussed later in the day.

Police said no injuries had been reported so far.

However, this correspondent saw a television journalist from Ekhon TV suffer injuries after being hit by a brickchips during the incident and was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment.

FP/MI