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At least seven people were injured in a clash erupted between Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal, student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and Islami Chhatra Shibir, student front of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, at Chattogram Polytechnic Institute on Thursday afternoon, over the control of a student dormitory on the campus.

Parts of the institute’s buildings, including doors and windows, were vandalised as the leaders and activists of the two organisations clashed, according to police.

Chhatra Shibir alleged that Chhatra Dal leaders, accompanied by activists and outsiders associated with banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League, attacked students. Conversely, Chhatra Dal accused Chhatra Shibir of seizing control of the hostel by holding the administration hostage. They claimed that when general students protested, Shibir leaders and activists launched an assault.

The altercation took place on the institution’s campus in Khulshi area of the city, said Faisal Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (North).

‘The polytechnic hostel was reopened after a long closure. A dispute arose between students affiliated with Chhatra Dal and Shibir over seat allocations, leading to chases, counter-chases, and hurling of brick chips and stones. The situation is now under control, said the police officer.’

The Nawab Siraj-ud-Doula and Surjo Sen student dormitories of Chattogram Polytechnic Institute were reopened on Thursday after remaining closed for nearly 15 years. Students, who were allocated seats in the hostels in a list published by the authority, began moving into the hostel rooms on Thursday. Later, the tension escalated as Chhatra Dal activists protested at the room allocations, alleging that the administration ignored their concerns.

Denying the allegations, publicity and publication secretary of Chittagong north unit Chhatra Shibir Salauddin Akash said, ‘Although Shibir once had dominance in the Polytechnic, our organisational activities are no longer carried out there. When the students went to occupy the seats allocated to them, Chhatra Dal, accompanied by outsiders, attacked the general students.’

Chattogram metropolitan unit Chhatra Dal convener Saiful Islam and member secretary Shariful Islam Tuhin rushed to the campus upon hearing about the incident. Their arrival reportedly intensified the situation, leading to attacks and counter-attacks between the groups.

Shariful Islam Tuhin refuted Shibir’s claims, saying, ‘Chhatra Shibir took control of the halls by manipulating the administration and posing as ordinary students. Genuine students were excluded from the process. This is not new. Shibir has done the same at Chattogram College. When we protested along with general students, Shibir launched an attack.’