Clashes broke out at several locations on Dhaka University’s campus, including Madhur Canteen, Mall Chattar, and the DU Central Library, during the launch of a new student organisation. The violence erupted between Dhaka University (DU) students and private university students, who expressed frustration over being excluded from key positions in the new organisation.
The organisation, named Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad, was officially launched during a press conference held at Madhur Canteen on 26 February. Coordinators of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) spearheaded the launch, with Abu Baker Majumder appointed as the central convener.
While the press conference was ongoing, a group of private university students gathered at Madhur Canteen, voicing their grievances. They raised slogans such as “We don’t accept any committee without private university students” and “We will not let the blood of private students go in vain.” In response, a group of Dhaka University students countered with slogans like “Education, unity, freedom” and support for the new organisation. Tensions escalated as both sides clashed over the issue of representation in the new leadership structure.
Private university students, including Raihan Molla from the College of Aviation Technology, voiced their concerns, claiming that they had been unfairly excluded from leadership positions. Molla stated, “The students of private universities have been the most persecuted, but we are being discriminated against the most. We are not being given any posts in the new organisation. The brothers of Dhaka University want to keep everything to themselves, which is why we are protesting.”
The newly formed organisation’s central committee includes Abu Baker Majumder as convener, Touhid Mohammad Siam as senior joint convener, Zahid Ahsan as member secretary, Rifat Rashid as senior member secretary, Tahmid Al Muddassir Chowdhury as chief organiser, and Ashrefa Khatun as spokesperson. The DU committee includes Abdul Kader as convener, Limon Mahmud Hasan as senior joint convener, Mohir Alam as member secretary, Al Amin Sarkar as senior member secretary, Hasib Al Islam as chief organiser, and Rafia Rehnuma Hridi as spokesperson.
The organisation has set its principles as education, unity, and freedom, aiming to operate independently of partisan student politics. Its formation follows a two-day public opinion survey and a split from the original Students Against Discrimination group, announced on 17 February. During that announcement, Abu Baker Majumder emphasized that the new organisation’s slogan would be “Student first, Bangladesh reorder,” focusing on the interests of students rather than political affiliations.
The clashes at Madhur Canteen and the surrounding areas are a reflection of the ongoing tensions between DU and private university students over representation in the new student body.