Online Desk : Local residents attacked students of Chittagong University (CU) following an announcement made through a mosque loudspeaker on Saturday night, leaving more than 50 students injured.

The attack took place around 11:30 pm near the university’s gate number 2 area.

According to sources, the incident began when a female student was assaulted by a building security guard as she tried to enter her flat late at night.

Following the incident, CU authorities announced that all examinations scheduled for Sunday (31 August) would remain suspended. “Many students have been injured in the incident, some of whom had exams scheduled,” said the university’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Dr. Md Kamal Uddin.

Witnesses and students said a first-year female student (2024–25 session) had an altercation with the security guard at the gate number 2 area around midnight when she attempted to enter her flat. At one stage, the guard physically assaulted her. Seeing this, nearby students intervened. The female student then called one of her male friends over the phone, who was also harassed upon arrival.

At that point, local residents armed with traditional weapons gathered at the scene, leading to clashes with students. The locals later used mosque loudspeakers to mobilize more people for the attack. Students were then surrounded and assaulted with sharp weapons in front of Bachamia’s shop near gate number 2. Many sustained serious injuries.

At least 50 students were injured, with 20 of them rushed to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in critical condition.
Dr Muhammad Tipu Sultan, a duty doctor at the CU Medical Centre, said: “Many injured students were brought here for treatment. We provided them with first aid, but those in critical condition were sent to CMCH for advanced care.”

Speaking about the incident, CU Proctor Professor Dr Tanvir Mohammad Haider Arif said: “We immediately dispatched multiple security teams to the spot. But as students were scattered in different places, it was difficult to bring them together and provide instructions. At the same time, there was not enough presence of law enforcement at the scene.”