Bloody Clashes Erupt Among Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Dal, and Jubo Dal in Chattogram’s Chawk Bazar; Cocktail Bomb Explosions and Rising Tensions

Repeated violent clashes broke out between leaders and activists of Chhatra Shibir and the allied student groups Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal in the Chawk Bazar police precinct area of Chattogram city. The confrontations started late Monday night around 11:30 PM and continued until 1 AM.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing several cocktail bomb explosions during the clashes. The violence spread beyond the Chawk Bazar police station area to neighboring localities. Both sides engaged in chanting slogans and took defensive positions. To control the situation, additional police forces were deployed at the scene, and senior officials arrived to attempt to calm tensions.

Both parties presented different versions regarding the cause of the clashes. According to Chhatra Shibir, a few days prior, some followers of Jubo Dal attempted extortion, which led Shibir leaders to detain them and hand them over to the police. In retaliation, late Monday night, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal members reportedly captured Shibir leader Arif from Mohsin College and took him to the police station. When Shibir leaders went to secure Arif’s release, further tensions escalated at the police station.

On the other hand, leaders of Chhatra Dal claimed that Shibir members had handed over a Chhatra League leader to the police, and when attempts were made to free him, clashes broke out between the two groups.

Chawk Bazar Police Officer-in-Charge Zahidul Kabir stated, “The unrest began after one student was beaten and handed over to the police. We are trying to keep both sides calm.”

Siraji Manik, publicity secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan North Shibir, said, “Students from Chattogram College and Mohsin College were attacked under the leadership of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal.”

Tanzir Hossain Jewel, president of Metropolitan North Shibir, alleged, “Our leader Ariful Islam was beaten and handed over to the police by Chhatra Dal activists. Later, at the police station, our activists were attacked under the leadership of expelled Jubo Dal leader Emdadul Haque Badsha.”

When contacted, Saiful Alam, president of Chattogram City Chhatra Dal, said he was in a meeting at the police station at the time and refrained from commenting in detail.