Chittagong University Students and Locals Face Off Again, Tensions Rise
On Sunday, August 31, 2025, tensions flared in the Chittagong University (CU) area as students and local residents faced off, escalating unrest in the region. The university administration, alongside law enforcement, is engaging both parties to defuse the situation. Following Friday’s violent clash, students began protesting at the Zero Point area from Sunday morning, closing the main gate and demanding justice for those involved in the earlier attack.
During the protest, students marched toward the site of Friday night’s clash near the campus, prompting local residents to advance with sticks and batons, intensifying the standoff. The conflict originated from an incident where a female student from the Philosophy Department was allegedly assaulted by a building watchman, sparking the initial violence.
In response to the clash, CU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin, announced the suspension of all university examinations on Sunday. However, classes will continue as scheduled. He confirmed that the shuttle train, vital for student commuting, will operate according to its regular schedule.
On Saturday night, multiple rounds of chases, counter-chases, and brick-throwing left many students injured, with at least 20 requiring treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Two faculty members from the university’s proctorial body were also injured. The attacks by locals on students persisted from 11:30 PM Saturday to 4:30 AM Sunday, with the army deployed to restore order.
