More than a hundred people were injured in a series of clashes between students of private Daffodil International University and City University in Savar, following a trivial incident that escalated from Sunday night to early Monday.
Several structures of the institutions were vandalised, and eight to ten vehicles were set on fire.
A tense situation was prevailing in the area as of filing this report at 10:30am.
Witnesses said the incident began around 7pm on Sunday in the Khagan area of Savar when a Daffodil student walking past Bachelor Paradise was accidentally hit by saliva spat on the road by a City University student.
A heated argument ensued between them, leading to a scuffle. Although the situation was temporarily calmed, tensions soon spread across both campuses.
Later, City University students allegedly attacked the Bachelor Paradise residence, which houses Daffodil University students, causing damage to valuables.
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Despite several emergency meetings held throughout the night by university administrations and student representatives in an effort to resolve the matter, tensions continued to rise.
Around midnight, a group of Daffodil students, equipped with homemade weapons, retaliated by attacking City University.
They broke through the main gate and vandalised several offices, including those of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar, as well as the conference room, computer lab, accounts office, and other facilities.
Besides, eight to 10 vehicles were set ablaze, and valuables were looted during the attack.
The violence, which continued until around 4am, left over a hundred students injured.
Of them, 30–35 were admitted to hospitals in Savar and Dhaka for treatment.
Following the clashes, several nearby universities, schools and colleges remained closed on Monday.
Officer-in-Charge Jewel Mia of Savar Police Station told UNB that additional police and other law enforcement personnel have been deployed, and the situation is currently under control.
However, he said, tensions remain high among students on the campuses.