At least 20 students and four teachers were injured after a clash broke out between students of the Public Administration and Bangla departments during an inter-department cricket tournament final at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
The incident occurred around 5:20 pm on Thursday at the university’s central playground. Witnesses said a verbal altercation during the match quickly escalated, and students from both sides began attacking each other with bamboo sticks, cricket bats, and chairs, triggering panic across the field.
Among the injured are assistant proctors Professor Md. Jahangir Alam and Md. Omar Faruk, along with Public Administration Professor Dr. Md. Ashraf Siddiqui and Lecturer Abdul Basit. Several seriously injured students were rescued and admitted to two nearby hospitals.
Eyewitnesses reported that tensions had been building since the start of the match. An argument reportedly began after sledging between players from the Public Administration department and spectators from the Bangla department. The situation soon spiraled out of control, sending spectators running for safety as the playground descended into chaos.
Director of Student Affairs Professor Md. Eshaq Mia confirmed that several teachers were hurt while trying to control the situation. “Some teachers were physically assaulted during the clash. Those involved will face swift disciplinary action. Assault on teachers is unacceptable,” he said.
University Proctor Professor Md. Mokhlesur Rahman expressed deep concern over the incident. “We must seriously reflect on where our students are heading. What happened on the ground has crossed all limits. Strict legal and administrative action will be taken against those found responsible after investigation,” he said.
He added that necessary treatment arrangements have been made for the injured, with four people currently undergoing treatment at two hospitals.
University officials say the incident has raised fresh concerns about student behavior and campus safety, prompting anxiety within the administration.