3 colleges' clash in Demra: Death toll now murky as police, DMRC yet to confirm

Dr Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College (DMRC) Managing Director Ashraf Samir in a press release claimed that three of their students had died in clashes between the institute's students and those of Kabi Nazrul Government College and Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College today (25 November).

He also confirmed the matter over the phone when contacted by The Business Standard. 

No other authority, however, has confirmed the same until the filing of this report at 5pm.

When contacted, DMRC administration official Obaidur Rahman Mollah told The Business Standard that he did not know about any deaths.

"Many of our students and teachers have been injured. Our principal has issued a press release, but it does not mention any fatalities," he said.

Contacted, Deputy Commissioner Md Saleh Uddin of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Wari Division told The Business Standard, "We have received reports on many people being injured. We are yet to confirm any deaths from the clashes."

An official of the Jatrabari Police Station also said they were yet to enter the DMRC premises for further investigation. "That's why we can't confirm the news of any deaths occurring during the clashes."

Meanwhile, 15 injured students were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) following the rounds of violence in Demra, said Inspector Md Faruk, the in-charge of DMCH police outpost.

Earlier in the morning, students of Kabi Nazrul College and Shaheed Suhrawardy College announced an event called "Mega Monday" in protest against the attacks and vandalism on their campuses yesterday (24 November).

On their way to the DMRC campus at Demra, students of both colleges chanted slogans, demanding justice for the students of the colleges involved in yesterday's attacks, including those from DMRC.

Soon after arriving in the DMRC area at around noon, the clash between the students of the three colleges started, leaving many injured on the spot. 

Locals also got involved in the clash as fears of attacks on nearby schools rose.

Roads in the Demra-Jatrabari area are still blocked although the clashes ended at around 2:30pm.

A message from the Border Guard Bangladesh Headquarters to the media said six platoons of the paramilitary force have also been deployed in the area, where police and army have been working to establish order since the clashes started in the morning.

Nearly all the rooms on all floors of the 10-storey DMRC building were vandalised during the attack. Many were seen looting the computers, furniture and other equipment at the time, reports Prothom Alo.

DMRC administration official Mahfuzur Rahman told Prothom Alo that the attackers also looted money from the college.

Today's clashes, however, stemmed from the violence that occurred in Old Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

At first, students from DMRC had vandalised the main gate and inside of Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital (DNMCH), alleging medical malpractice and irregularities in the treatment of 18-year-old student Abhijit Halder, who died while undergoing treatment on 18 November.

Soon after violence spilled into Kabi Nazrul College and Shaheed Suhrawardy College campuses, which are located near DNMCH.

During the clashes, DMRC students, reportedly supported by students of several other colleges, vandalised Kabi Nazrul College and Shaheed Suhrawardy College buildings -- leading to today's violence carried out by the students of the latter colleges.