Students from Daffodil International University and City University clashed overnight in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, leaving several injured and multiple vehicles burned, police and witnesses said on Monday.
The violence erupted at about 9:00pm on Sunday in the Khagan area of Birulia union and continued till Monday morning, according to sub-inspector Abdul Wahab of Savar Model Police Station鈥檚 Birulia outpost.
Witnesses said that the clashes began when a Daffodil University student got into an argument with City University students in front of a building known as Bachelor Paradise.
At about 9:00pm, around 50 students from City University reportedly attacked a nearby house rented by Daffodil University students, with sticks and bricks that sparked the confrontation.
City University students claimed that the dispute began when one of their classmates accidentally spat on a Daffodil University student.
Although the matter was initially settled, they alleged that later that night Daffodil University students attacked their campus.
鈥楧affodil University students entered our campus breaking the boundary wall, vandalised the administrative building, canteen and dormitories, and set fire to several vehicles,鈥� said a City University student Asif Muntakin.
According to City University officials, at least three buses, a car and two motorcycles were torched, and several other vehicles were vandalised.
City University registrar Akhtar Hossain said, 鈥楧affodil University students set fire to several vehicles on our campus.鈥�
Police said that that situation got worse despite their attempts to mediate between the two groups.
鈥業t started over a trivial matter鈥�, sub-inspector Wahab said. 鈥楢fter arriving on the campus, we tried to calm down the situation. But during the mediation, a City University student assaulted a Daffodil University student, triggering renewed violence.鈥�
Daffodil University students then reportedly entered the City University compound, carried out widespread vandalism and set several vehicles on fire, he added.
While City University students claimed that several of their fellows were injured, police said that they were still verifying the reports.
鈥榃e are investigating whether anyone was injured鈥�, Wahab said. 鈥楾he situation is now under control.鈥�
Authorities of both the universities refused to make any comment in this regard.
Photos and videos of the clashes circulated on social media overnight, showing flames rising from vehicles and groups of students hurling stones in the darkened streets of Khagan.
Additional police forces were deployed in the area to prevent further violence, Wahab said.