At least 20 individuals, including a teacher, were injured in a clash that broke out between students of two departments of Rajshahi University (RU) following an inter-departmental cricket match on Sunday.
The injured were initially treated at RU medical center, but critically injured five students referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for better treatment.
The altercation erupted at around 4:30 PM after the semi-final match between Mathematics and Management Studies departments at university stadium.
According to witnesses, students from both departments were sitting on opposite sides of the stadium’s gallery, where they began taunting each other. After the match concluded with the Management Studies department losing, the Management students reportedly began throwing bricks at the Mathematics students, leaving five injured.
Following this, the Mathematics students got involved into another round of clashes. Around 15 more individuals, including teachers, were injured in this phase of clash.
Management Studies department Chairman Professor Sheikh Shamsul Arefin, who was not present at the scene, said, "Even their teachers joined in the verbal altercations led to our students becoming enraged. I am with my students."
Mathematics department Chairman Professor Asabul Haque described the events differently. He said, ''After the match, students from the Management Studies department started throwing bricks at our students, injuring around 20 of them. Five of them were critically injured and sent to RMCH."
Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman said that although both departments were supposed to have faculty present during the match, one department had fewer teachers which made it difficult to control the situation.
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