Daffodil Uni closed till 16 Nov after students clash with locals in Savar

Infuriated by the death of a fellow student last week, Daffodil International University (DIU) students clashed with local residents in Savar's Ashulia union on Monday which resulted in vandalism of several shops and university buildings, along with road blockages.

A fourth-year textile engineering student at the university, Hasibul Islam Antor, succumbed to his injuries on 2 November after reportedly being assaulted by a group of locals.

Deepak Chandra Saha, officer-in-charge (OC) of Savar Model Police Station, told The Business Standard "The situation is currently under control. A few students sustained injuries from brick-throwing incidents. We will take further action after discussions with both parties involved."

Meanwhile, the university authorities announced the suspension of academic activities till 16 November following rounds of clashes between students and locals, reports UNB.

Furious over the death of their fellow student, DIU students formed a human chain on the road adjacent to the campus, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice and face the maximum penalty. The demonstration sparked a clash between the students and local residents.

In the ensuing chaos, locals reportedly vandalised an academic building of the university. The brick-pelting incident also resulted in injuries to some students.

"A student named Mehdi Hasan was brought to our hospital at approximately 7:30pm with a head injury. He is currently undergoing medical treatment in the emergency department," said Dr Merajur Rehan Pavel, a physician at Enam Medical College Hospital.

However, local and market traders have levelled accusations against the university students, alleging that they vandalised at least 70 shops and set fire to 3-4 shops in a market adjacent to the university. They further claimed that the students looted cash and goods from various shops during the rampage.

Shahriar Sumon, president of the Changaon Molla Market Traders Association, told TBS that the students had been agitated for the past few days.

"But for the last 2-3 days they have been forcing us to shut our shops. As we tried to keep shops open, some students suddenly set fire to 3-4 shops in the market and vandalised nearly 70 shops," he added.

Ejaz ur Rahman, an assistant professor of the Department of Business Administration at Daffodil University, told the media, "Some of our students were injured, but their injuries were not serious. All of them have been given first aid. Now the situation is normal."

DIU student Hasibul Islam was reportedly picked up from a human-hauler stand adjacent to the university and beaten up by some local youths on 27 October due to previous enmity. Later, the student died in a hospital in Mymensingh on 2 November while undergoing treatment.

The university authorities filed a case with the Savar model police station accusing six people over the incident. The police have arrested Rahat Sarkar, 25, the main accused in the case.