At least 50 people, including students, were injured in sporadic clashes among the students of three colleges involving Kabi Nazrul College, Suhrawardy College and Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College in Dhaka’s Demra area on Monday. Meanwhile, Kabi Nazrul College was declared closed for an indefinite period following the mayhem, according to an announcement made in a noticeboard of the college. Earlier in the day, a clash erupted at Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College in Demra as the students of Kabi Nazrul College and Suhrawardy College carried out vandalism at the college over Sunday’s clash. Students started gathering near Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College in the morning and carried out vandalism around 12 noon. They also looted valuables from the college. Around 1 pm, the students of Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College appeared there and a chase and counter chase took place among them. Later, they attacked each other, leaving 50 people injured. The whole area turned into a battlefield following the clash. The injured were taken to different hospitals. Among them, 30 were taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, said in-charge of the hospital police camp, Mohammad Faruk. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Besides, six platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in Jatrabari-Demra area on Monday following clash. According to a media release of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), additional police have been deployed from Sutrapur to Demra area from 7 am following Sunday’s clash. Police tried to control the situation peacefully, fearing it might take a different turn. Despite this, the agitating students engaged in chase and counter chase, attack and looting, it said. At least 25 students were injured in the series of clashes in the area, said the release. Meanwhile, rumours are being spread on social media claiming that two individuals died in the incident, which is completely false. DMP has urged everyone to refrain from such misinformation, it said. On Sunday, students from 35 colleges near National Medical College Hospital vandalised Dhaka National Medical College and Hospital at Bakshibazar in Old Dhaka centering a student’s death in ‘wrong treatment’ at the hospital. 6 BGB platoons deployed in Jatrabari-Demra after student clashes  On November 16, Abhijit Halder, an HSC student of Demra’s Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College, was admitted to the medicine department of the hospital with dengue. He died on November 18. After that students vandalised the hospital alleging negligence in treatment at the hospital on Sunday. They alleged that students from Kabi Nazrul and Suhrawardy Colleges supported by National Medical College attacked them. Later, students from 35 colleges clashed with the students of Kabi Nazrul and Suhrawardy Colleges and vandlised property of the two colleges on Sunday, leaving at least 20 people injured. The 35 colleges included Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Molla College, Dhaka College, Dhaka Ideal College, City College, Giyasuddin College, Government Tolaram College, Imperial College, Borhanuddin College, Science College, Dhaniya College, Lalbagh Government College, Udayan College, Adamjee, Notre Dame, Rajarbagh College, Nur Mohammad, Munshi Abdur Rouf College, Siddheswari College, Green Line Polytechnic, Dhaka Polytechnic, Mahbubur Rahman Institute of Science and Technology, and others from the capital. However, Kabi Nazrul College's unit general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal Kawser Hossain denied any involvement in the incident. "We are students, and we support students. We did not attack anyone," he said. Regarding the vandalism, Suhrawardy College Islamic Studies department teacher Tariqul Islam said, "I sent them back first, but they returned with a group. They stole many computers and destroyed them, even took rifles from the NCC. They vandalised all 17 departments and even damaged four motorcycles owned by a teacher." Suhrawardy College Vice-Principal Dr Farida Yasmin said, "We were assured by the principal that nothing would happen, but the attack occurred. The entire college was attacked, and even my room was ransacked."

BRAC University, a renowned private university of the country, today issued a statement clearing its stance over the recent incidents involving part-time teacher Asif Mahtab Utsha and demonstration by some students on the campus. BRAC University said it believes, like all great institutions of higher education, its role should be to create space for all views to be discussed and debated constructively, predicated on tolerance and respect. The university said that it considers any act of vandalism towards national property as unacceptable behavior and does not tolerate or support such activities. Read more: Youth with disabilities deprived of learning, employment scopes: Study “The recent act of tearing pages of a textbook published by the Government of Bangladesh, included in the national curriculum for students enrolled in 7th grade in schools, and asking others to do the same in a public forum, is an act of vandalism, a behavior not supported by BRAC University,” the statement reads. The university said, it therefore, cannot offer a part-time teaching contract to Asif Mahtab Utsha for the Spring 2024 semester. However, the university will compensate him for his time and efforts towards his preparatory work for Spring 2024. BRAC University said it respects and fully complies with the country's constitution and laws on all matters. Accordingly, it does not promote homosexuality as has been alleged by some quarters in various social media content. However, BRAC University said it believes in equal rights and opportunities for every single human being to realize their potential. Read more: Jamaat congratulates dismissed BRACU teacher Asif Mahtab, criticizes govt’s education policy

The High Court today (January 10, 2024) rejected the bail petition of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a case filed over vandalising the Chief Justice's residence on October 28 during the party's grand rally. The HC bench of Justice Md Salim and Justice Shahed Nuruddin passed the order after hearing a rule. Advocate Joynul Abedin, Fakhrul's lawyer, said the decision to file an appeal will be taken after discussion. Bail plea of BNP's Fakhrul to be heard Jan 9 Deputy Attorney General BM Abdur Ruffel represented the state. Earlier on December 7, 2023, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain why Fakhrul should not be granted bail in the case. The government was asked to respond to the rule within a week. On December 17, the High Court set January 3 for hearing on the rule. SC upholds HC order to dispose of Fakhrul’s bail pleas On October 29, 2023, police filed a case with Ramna Police Station on charges of vandalism and attack on the Chief Justice's residence during a BNP rally on October 28. Fakhrul was arrested in the case on October 29 and has been in jail since then.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said they will leave no stone unturned to identify the perpetrators of the heinous crime of setting a train on fire. "Each and every one will be brought to justice and exemplary punishment shall be rendered to the culprit(s), according to the law of the land," he said in a statement today. Momen said this blatant attempt to instill fear and panic among the masses is an affront to the spirit of the democracy and the enthusiastic participation of Bangladeshi citizens in the upcoming election. Government firmly committed to hold "free, fair, peaceful" polls with people’s participation: FS tells foreigners "This act of setting a train on fire, with people burning inside is characteristic of the pattern of violence that we have witnessed before as well. This has shocked the conscience of our whole society — and indeed — the whole world," he said. When people of Bangladesh are eagerly preparing for a festive national election, a horrifying act of arson took place on the evening of January 5, 2024, when the Benapole Express train was intentionally set on fire by miscreants, Momen observed. This deliberate and heinous act, which occurred at approximately 9 pm around Gopibag Kacha Bazar area when the train was on its way to Kamalapur Railway Station, has resulted in the deaths of four people including two children and scores were injured, he said. BIMSTEC chief vows to translate its grand vision into reality for deepening cooperation  “This reprehensible incident, undoubtedly orchestrated by those with malicious intent, strikes at the very heart of our democratic values,” Momen said. "The timing of this tragedy, just a day before the election scheduled for January 7, 2024, shows an absolute intention to hinder the festivity, safety and security of the democratic processes of the country," he said. Momen said it is an affront to democracy, an attack on the democratic process, and a grave violation of the rights of citizens. Bangladesh election is domestic affair: India "This deliberate act of setting a train on fire, where innocent passengers were subjected to unimaginable horror and forced to endure the unforgivable sight of fellow humans being burned alive, is an act of absolute abomination," the foreign minister said.

Police today arrested a local leader of BNP from Birampur upazila of Dinajpur district in connection with a case filed over attempt to set fire to a rail track. The arrestee was identified as Haidar Ali, joint secretary of Birampur unit of BNP. Subrata Kumar, officer-in-charge of Birampur Police Station, said police arrested Haider from the upazila in the morning. Earlier, a case was filed against eight identified people and several unidentified people in connection with the attempt to set fire to a rail track last night. Read: Rail track bolts stolen from Kurigram-Rangpur railway line  Haidar was the prime accused in the case. He was handed over to Railway Police after primary interrogation. “Police are trying to arrest the other accused in the case,” said the OC. ATM Nurul Islam, in-charge of Parbatipur Railway Station, said miscreants are trying to destroy lives and property through sabotage activities on railways but their attempt was foiled due to strict surveillance by police. Last night, law enforcers foiled miscreants’ attempt to set fire to a rail track in Birampur upazila of Dinajpur district. Read: Two motorcyclists killed in Sylhet road crash  Mia Ranjan, sub-inspector of Birampur Police Station, said a group of people set fire to the slipper of rail tracks near No 2 Litchi Bagan in Birampur municipality area between 8 pm and 9 pm. Noticing smoke, police and Ansar members rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze. They also managed to halt the Khulna-bound Shimanto Express train, which was scheduled to go through the area, a few yards away, saving lives and property.  

Helper of a truck suffered burn injuries from a petrol bomb attack in Narayanganj’s Sonargaon area on Tuesday (November 28, 2023) night.  Md Saimon, 20, is currently undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.  Miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at the truck at Singlabo area, said Sheikh Billal Hossain, additional superintendent of police in Narayanganj. Bus set on fire in Gazipur during 24-hour blockade Police are working to identify the arsonist, he said.  The tiles-carrying truck was on its way to Sirajganj from Sonargaon’s  Meghnaghat area through the Asian Highway.  Car torched, bombs exploded at the house of Feni BNP leader The truck driver managed to get down quickly, and several parts of the truck were burnt.  Locals rescued the helper and rushed him to hospital. On information, police rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire with the help of locals.  Crude bombs explode near Sitakunda AL leader’s house

Miscreants set a stationary bus on fire in Mohadevpur upazila of Naogaon district on Sunday (November 26, 2023) night during the ongoing 48-hour blockade called by the BNP and some like-minded parties. Locals said miscreants set the bus of ‘Rahi Travels’ on fire around 11:30 pm. Being informed, a firefighting unit from Mohadevpur station rushed to the spot and doused the flame, said the fire station’s team leader Ashraful Rahman, adding that 50 percent of the bus got burnt. Read more: Dialogue possible with political parties, not arsonists: Hasan Mahmud Mozaffar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Mohadevpur Police Station, said they arrested two BNP workers in this connection. The arrestees are Sujauzzaman Raju, 55, president of Ward No.1 under Mohadevpur union the upazila and local activist Ataur Rahaman Ata, he said. Legal actions will be taken in this regard, the OC added. Read more: No way to compromise with arsonists: PM Hasina

A 48-hour hartal — called by BNP, Jamaat and like-minded opposition parties — protesting the general election schedule announced by the Election Commission (EC) is underway from this morning (November 19, 2023) amid fear of violence. This is the first hartal being observed by the opposition parties since the EC announced the polls schedule. BNP, Jamaat and other opposition parties called the hartal after they had earlier observed five countrywide blockades of roads, rail and waterways. The blockades were marked by frequent burning of vehicles, particularly buses, in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. The presence of law enforcement personnel at several points in Dhaka is higher today compared to the previous blockades. Read more: 'Scrap polls schedule, create atmosphere for fair election first': BNP Number of public transport on Dhaka streets was fewer than that during the blockades. Many were seen heading towards their destinations on foot amid heightened tension and fear of violence. Rickshaws are dominating Dhaka streets while a few private vehicles are on the road. Unidentified arsonists set seven vehicles on fire, including a passenger train, in Dhaka and across the country between 7 pm last night and 6 am today, ahead of the 48-hour countrywide hartal. Three buses were torched in the capital’s Gulistan, Dhanmondi and Mirpur areas last night. Read more: Jatiya Party to decide on joining or boycotting polls within a couple of days:Chunnu One bus each in Cumilla and Chattogram and a pickup van in Joypurhat were also set on fire ahead of the hartal. Arsonists set three compartments of ‘Jamuna Express’ train on fire in Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur early today. Miscreants exploded three crude bombs in front of the residence of Dhaka University vice chancellor last night, spreading panic among students. At a press briefing yesterday, BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi called upon people from all walks of life and opposition leaders and activists to observe the hartal peacefully and make it a success. Read more: 12th JS election: Shakib buys AL nomination forms for 3 different constituencies

On average, more than nine arson attacks have been reported across Bangladesh every day between October 28 and November 13, Fire Service and Civil Defense said today (November 14, 2023). "A total of 154 arson attacks were reported across the country during this period, leaving 5 people injured,” said Talha Bin Jashim, station officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence's media cell. Of these, 82 arson attacks were in Dhaka city, he added. Read: Fire Service records 9 arson attacks in the country in 10 hrs According to the fire service, out of 154 arson attacks across the country, 116 incidents occurred in Dhaka division, 14 in Chattogram, 9 in Rajshahi, 6 in Barishal, 6 in Rangpur, 2 in Khulna and 1 in Mymensingh division. No arson attacks were reported in the Sylhet division during this period. A total of 94 buses, 3 microbuses, 2 private cars, 8 motorcycles, 13 trucks, 8 covered vans, 1 ambulance, 2 pickup trucks, 2 CNG-run autorickshaws, 1 human hauler, 1 Laguna, 1 fire service water truck, 1 police van, 5 BNP offices, 1 Awami League office, 1 police box, 1 councilor office, 2 electricity offices, 1 bus counter, and 2 showrooms were burnt during this time, according to fire service. Read: Two passenger buses set on fire in Dhaka on eve of fresh 48-hr blockade According to the statistics, the highest, 29, arson attacks happened on October 28. Analyzing the incidents, the fire service found that there were more arson attacks during the night (6 pm to 6 am) compared to daytime. Between October 28 and November 13, 61 fire incidents occurred during the day and 93 during the night.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) say they caught a central leader of BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), "red-handed" when he was about to set a bus on fire on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in Abdullahpur area this morning (November 13, 2023). The detainee, Mamun Majumdar, is an assistant organising secretary of JCD's central executive body. Md Parvez Rana, senior assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at RAB-1, told journalists that RAB personnel in plainclothes took position in Abdullahpur this morning after being tipped off that some miscreants would obstruct vehicles and set them on fire. Read: Crude bombs hurled at police vehicle in Dhaka's Uttara, JCD activist arrested Members of the elite force caught the JCD leader when he was trying to set a bus of Projapati Paribahan on fire, the RAB official said. “The JCD leader admitted that they have activists positioned in several Dhaka areas to carry out subversive activities with the aim of destabilising the country,” said ASP Rana. JCD men, who aspire to land higher posts in the next committee, are determined to carry out destructive acts, the RAB official said, quoting the detained JCD leader. Read more: JCD leader dies, 3 hurt in Chandpur road crash