Violence erupted once again near Gate 2 of Chittagong University on Sunday, leaving at least 70 people injured, including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Md Kamal Uddin and Proctor Prof Tanvir Mohammad Haydar, in a brutal clash between students and local residents that has plunged the campus into chaos.The confrontation, which began around 12:00noon near the London Building area adjacent to Gate 2, quickly spiralled into a full-scale riot, with both sides hurling bricks, stones, and sticks. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as students and locals battled in the streets, turning the university’s periphery into a warzone. Following the violence, the Hathazari Upazila administration has imposed Section 144 on the Chittagong University campus and surrounding areas, covering the stretch from Gate No. 2 of CU to the level crossing on the eastern side of the gate. The order comes in response to repeated clashes between students and local residents.
According to a notice issued on August 31 by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the restriction will remain in effect from 2:00pm Sunday until 12:00am Monday, prohibiting unlawful assemblies and activities that could threaten public order.
Despite the escalating violence, no law enforcement personnel were visible on the ground for hours, leaving students and university officials to fend for themselves.
In a shocking turn, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Proctor were deliberately targeted while attempting to mediate between the warring groups. Eyewitnesses said locals surrounded the officials from both sides and launched a barrage of stones, seriously injuring them along with dozens of students.
“They were there to restore peace, and they were attacked like enemies,” said a third-year student who sustained a head injury. “It was not just a clash, it was an ambush.”
University security forces resorted to firing blank shots in an effort to disperse the mob, but the situation remained volatile throughout the afternoon.
The unrest traces back to the night of 30 August, when a female CU student was allegedly assaulted and harassed by a security guard (doorman) at her rented flat near Gate No. 2 after she tried to enter the building late at night. The guard fled when other students arrived, but locals responded by blasting calls for retaliation over a mosque loudspeaker.
By midnight, a mob of armed locals had descended on the area, attacking students with crude weapons, including machetes. Over 50 students were injured, more than 20 of them critically, with many requiring stitches and hospitalisation at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
Videos circulating on social media show bloodied students being carried on stretchers, while vehicles belonging to the proctorial team and law enforcement were vandalised and set ablaze.
In the wake of the violence, the university administration has suspended all academic activities indefinitely. All exams scheduled for Sunday and beyond have been postponed, and students have been advised to stay off campus.
To restore order, three platoons of the army have been deployed within the university premises, with troops stationed near key entrances and dormitories.
This is not the first time CU has been rocked by violence between students and local communities. Tensions around Gate 2, a flashpoint for years, often flare over issues of access, safety, and territorial disputes. But this latest incident, marked by the targeted assault on senior university officials, has escalated concerns about campus security and governance.
Students are demanding justice for the attacked female student and accountability for those behind the mob violence. “We are not asking for special privileges,” said a student leader. “We are asking for the right to live and study without fear.”
The university administration faces mounting criticism for its failure to prevent the violence. Faculty members and student unions are calling for immediate intervention from the Ministry of Education and the Home Ministry to ensure long-term safety.