Violence Erupts at Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, Three Students Killed

Students from Shaheed Sohrawardy College and Kobir Nazrul College attacked Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College (DMRC) in Jatrabari on Monday, November 25, resulting in widespread vandalism. The attackers looted equipment and materials from the college, and the institution’s authorities have confirmed that three students were killed during the assault.

At around noon, thousands of students from both Shaheed Sohrawardy and Kobir Nazrul colleges gathered at DMRC and launched an attack. Several students from both sides were reported injured. By 1 p.m., the area around Jatrabari and Demra turned into a battleground as students from the affected colleges clashed with local residents and DMRC students.

The violence followed protests by DMRC students on Sunday against an earlier assault on their college. On that day, students from 35 colleges in the capital staged a sit-in outside the National Medical College, demanding action. These protests escalated into significant vandalism at several educational institutions, including Kobir Nazrul Government College and Shaheed Sohrawardy College. During the unrest, ongoing exams at Shaheed Sohrawardy College were disrupted, forcing the authorities to cancel them. That evening, students from Shaheed Sohrawardy College attacked St. Gregory College.

In a press conference that evening, students from Shaheed Sohrawardy College issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding the return of destroyed documents and an explanation for the approximately 10 crore taka in damages.

Ashraf Samir, Managing Director of Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Mollah College, issued a statement on Monday, condemning the brutal attack. He claimed that a group of outsiders, posing as students from the so-called “Seven College” banner, had entered the campus and carried out a rampage. Three students were reported dead, and over a hundred others, including students and teachers, were injured. Some of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated in ICUs.

Samir also accused students from Shaheed Sohrawardy College and National Medical College of being involved in the attack, alleging that most of the assailants were not students but individuals engaged in criminal activities.

The attackers looted important documents, college assets, and personal belongings of students. They also caused extensive damage to the college building, including vandalizing the principal’s office and other rooms.

Despite repeated pleas for help from local authorities, the college administration stated that no effective action had been taken to address the situation, leaving the safety and educational environment of students in jeopardy.

Dr. Mahbubur Rahman, the principal of DMRC, confirmed reports of student fatalities and described how large groups of attackers, armed with weapons including pistols, carried out the assault. The college remains in shock as the investigation continues.