Mass Brawl at Dhaka Uni Leaves 100 Injured
Violent clashes between rival student groups at Dhaka University yesterday left over 100 injured. Protesters opposing the controversial quota system for government jobs tangled with pro-government Awami League supporters in a brutal campus showdown, police revealed.
Rocks, Rods, Machetes and Petrol Bombs Thrown
Hundreds of angry students from both sides fought for hours, hurled stones, swung sticks, and beat each other with iron rods. Witnesses reported some protesters even brandished machetes and lobbed petrol bombs, turning a political dispute into a full-blown street melee.
“They clashed with sticks and threw rocks at each other,” said Mostajirur Rahman, local police station chief.
Police Inspector Masud Mia confirmed, “Around 100 students including women were injured and rushed to hospital. More are still coming.”
Quota System Sparks Furious Backlash
The quota system reserves over half of Bangladesh’s lucrative civil service jobs for select groups, including descendants of 1971 liberation war heroes. Students want it scrapped in favour of a merit-based system.
“They attacked our peaceful procession with rods, sticks, and rocks,” claimed Nahid Islam, national anti-quota protest coordinator. “Our female protesters were beaten. At least 150 were hurt, including 30 women, with 20 in serious condition.”
Injured student Shahinur Shumi recounted the horror from Dhaka Medical Hospital: “We were peacefully marching when the Chhatra League – the ruling party’s student wing – assaulted us with sticks, machetes, iron rods, and bricks.”
Protests Spread, Traffic Paralyzed Near US Embassy
Hundreds of students from private universities joined the unrest, blocking traffic near the US embassy in downtown Dhaka for over four hours. “Around 200 students squatted and stood on the road,” said deputy police commissioner Hasanuzzaman Molla.
Thousands marched overnight across a dozen universities, enraged by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s inflammatory remarks comparing protesters to Pakistani collaborators during the independence war. A female Dhaka University student said, “This is unacceptable. We want quota reforms so merit wins, not politics.”
Violence Spreads to Chittagong
Anti-quota protests turned violent in Bangladesh’s second city, Chittagong, late Sunday. Organiser Khan Talat Mahmud Rafy reported, “Two protesters were injured when dozens of Chhatra League activists attacked our procession.”
Students demand slashing quotas to just 6% for ethnic minorities and disabled people. Bangladesh’s booming economy masks a severe job crisis for millions of graduates struggling to land government roles.
