Students at the University of Chittagong say they are nervous about spending the night in dorms on campus grounds, alleging that authorities have failed to protect them and delayed, infrequent responses from law enforcers have created an atmosphere for recurring violence.
After a night of unrest, at around 9:00am on Sunday, a fresh round of clashes broke out near the CU's Gate No. 2 between attackers and university students.
Melees continued intermittently throughout the day, but students reported that law enforcers did not arrive till around 3:00pm, almost 6 hours after the chaos erupted.
Live coverage by several media outlets also showed an absence of army and police personnel. By 3:45pm, they had sprung into action, declaring Section in the locality for about 34 hours, or until midnight on Monday.
At the last count, at least 180 students were injured in various clashes on Sunday.
Viral videos on social media show chilling scenes of violence, including students being attacked with sticks and machetes, and being thrown from rooftops.
As of 10:30pm, army and other law enforcement personnel were present on campus, Touhidul Islam, a student of CU, told Stream.
Yet, students who live off-campus remain anxious about their safety at night, especially those who reside in areas where clashes erupted throughout the day.
They sought refuge in dormitories, despite the day's chaotic scenes laying bare the weaknesses in the university's own security arrangements.
Concerns were also voiced by those who will inevitably end up at Gate No. 2, an area that became a battlefield from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon.
Rezaul Karim Tushar, a student of the university's public administration department, who lives in AF Rahman Hall, needs to travel for meals to Gate No. 2 to get his meals.
"So many students stay outside the hall, where is their safety? I can see that they are afraid to go home. My friends who are uncomfortable staying outside in this situation showed up to my hall. I kept them for tonight. But for how long can I shelter them? And how many? Right now, it feels like they will be hacked wherever they are," he told Stream.
On the frailty of campus security, he said, "Throughout the day, we saw that whenever someone was alone, three or four people would gang up on them and attack. What initiatives is the administration taking now? Where is my security? I cannot eat when I want to in my own hall. I have to go to Gate No. 2 for meals. On whose assurance shall I now go there? Where is the administration which is providing that security? Honestly, we are going through a very frightening situation right now."'
Md Ifraan, a resident of the AF Rahman Hall and a student of the Department of Communication and Journalism, expressed the same concern.
Speaking to Dhaka Stream on Sunday evening, he said, "Today, we are seeing just how fragile CU's security is. It is because of this lack of security that we had to see so many injuries today. As for the current situation, the joint forces came, but we don't know what they did or didn't do, and they left again. At this moment, who will ensure our safety?
"My university administration is already avoiding responsibility. Those who came forward to help have also been injured. The university's security force is of no use. This has been clearly proven. We have seen in videos online that they did nothing".
He also wondered how students would get around, also saying that everyone holing up at the campus was not a feasible solution.
"Those of us who live near Gate No. 1, Gate No. 2, or outside the campus saw what happened on Saturday and again today (Sunday). We saw students being dragged out of their homes and beaten violently. What will happen tonight? Who will ensure our safety? Students are saying they [non-residential students] should come to the campus. But moving to campus is not the ultimate solution. Even if they come to campus, what will that achieve?"
Muhammad Tipu Sultan of the CU Medical Centre said, "Many students have sustained injuries from sharp weapons. Some have deep wounds in their heads, while others have cuts on their arms and legs. We have referred the patients who are critically injured to Chittagong Medical College Hospital."
The university's Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration), Kamal Uddin, said, "Students have been subjected to brutal attacks—hacked with machetes and thrown from rooftops. We are extremely concerned for their lives."
Brigadier General Taslim Uddin, Director of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), told Amar Desh, "Fifty CU students are admitted to CMCH. Most of them have head injuries. We are trying to provide the best possible treatment."
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