Jobra village in ruins while CU students writhing at hospital

Students of Chittagong University (CU) at various hospitals across Chattogram city lie in agony, badly injured in a violent clash with residents of nearby Jobra village. One student remains on life support, while many others suffer from severe wounds to the head, limbs, and different parts of the body.

Meanwhile, Jobra village lies shattered in eerie silence after the students’ vandalism. Fear of arrest has left the village nearly deserted of men, while women remain behind in extreme fear and insecurity.

From late Saturday night (August 30) until Sunday morning (August 31), CU students and Jobra villagers fought in repeated clashes near the university’s Gate No. 2, leaving more than 400 students, including CU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Md. Kamal Uddin, injured. According to eyewitnesses, the violence erupted around 11:30 pm on Saturday following an altercation between a university student, Safia Khatun, and a building caretaker over opening the gate of her rented house. The argument escalated into a heated dispute between students and locals, sparking the deadly clash. To restore order, the local administration imposed Section 144 in and around the university area until midnight Tuesday (September 2).

Students alleged that villagers attacked them suddenly with machetes, sticks, rods, and bricks. Even when CU authorities, joint forces, and police arrived, they too came under attack. Villagers, however, claimed it was the students who first assaulted locals, vandalized homes, and looted shops.

On Wednesday ( September 3), when visited Jobra village still stood nearly deserted of men due to fear of arrest. Many had fled their homes, leaving mostly women on the streets—though they too live in constant fear.

Local women said, if a serious incident occurs at night, there’s no one left to protect us. They feel extremely unsafe.

According to the district civil surgeon’s office, over 300 injured students received treatment at the CU Medical Centre, 114 at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), and 30 more at private hospitals in the city. Since Monday (September 1), two students have been on life support at Parkview Hospital, while 11 others are still under treatment at CMCH. One student, whose artery was ruptured, has been referred to Dhaka’s NICVD (National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases) for advanced care, said Civil Surgeon Dr. Jahangir Hossain.

On Thursday (September 4), doctors said that the condition of Imtiaz Ahmed, a CU student on life support at Parkview Hospital, had not improved and he remains in critical condition. Another injured student, Sociology department’s Mamun Mia, was taken off life support after slight improvement, but remains under observation in ICU with a fractured skull.

Student Palash Mallik at CMCH’s Orthopedic and Traumatology ward, writhed in pain, unable to lie down properly due to deep cuts on his back. With one hand bandaged, he was forced to spend most of his time sitting upright. Another student, Ehsan, was being treated in the same ward with head and body injuries caused by villagers’ attacks.

Palash recounted, “We rushed to the spot after hearing that our proctor was injured. While helping him leave the scene, we were suddenly attacked. Villagers struck us with machetes. My friend Imtiaz was badly injured in the head. Fellow students rescued us and brought us to the hospital.”

Police said two cases were filed over the incident—one naming 95 individuals and around 1,000 unidentified persons, and another general diary (GD) over looting of weapons from the university’s security office during the clash. Eight villagers—Md. Emran Hossain alias Emran Hossain (35), Md. Hasan Hasain (22), Russell alias Black Russell (30), Md. Alamgir (35), Md. Nazrul Islam (30), Md. Zahed (30), Md. Arman (24), and Didarul Alam (46)—have so far been arrested and sent to jail through the court.

On Wednesday (September 3), Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Muhammad Abdullah Al Mumin visited Jobra village and urged both sides to remain calm.

“The administration is working so that villagers and students can live together peacefully. Everyone’s cooperation is needed to restore academic and social stability,” said the UNO.