DHAKA: One of Bangladesh’s leading universities closed indefinitely Sunday after five people were injured in riots by students demanding time off to watch the World Cup, police said.
Students carrying sticks and metal rods rampaged through the University of Engineering and Technology in the capital Dhaka on Saturday demanding the term was cut short to allow them to enjoy the matches, the local police chief said.
“The junior students were protesting as they wanted the campus to close so they can watch the World Cup. But some senior students, who have exams, didn’t want that – so there were some very tense clashes,” Rezaul Karim told AFP.
“The university held emergency meetings and decided to close immediately,” he said, adding this was a week ahead of the scheduled June 26 end of term.
During the 2006 World Cup, scores of students were injured in clashes at the same university.
The fighting on Saturday triggered widespread panic, witnesses said.
“It was totally unexpected. Suddenly, the junior students started attacking the seniors with metal rods and sticks,” Tapash Ghosh, a senior student, told AFP.
“This violence is so silly – why on earth should my university close for the World Cup? For senior students, our classes are too important,” he said.
On Sunday armed security guards were stationed at the front gates of the deserted campus.
“We have closed the university for an indefinite period to avoid any trouble, we hope to reopen after the World Cup,” Jibon Podder, the student affairs chief, told AFP.
“At one stage the two groups were fighting inside the university itself, injuring five students,” he added.
Rakibul Hasan, a senior student who is about to complete an honours degree, criticised the university authorities for giving in to the protesters.
“I’m really annoyed. Now it will take even more time for us to finish our studies, get a job and start earning – I think the university was scared and shut down too quickly,” he said.
Bangladesh has a culture of violent student politics, especially on public university campuses. All three of the country’s main political parties have strong student wings, which they fund and sometimes arm.
The usually cricket-mad nation is currently gripped by World Cup fever, despite the national team not qualifying for the tournament.
Irate fans last week damaged vehicles and attacked electricity distribution centres when a power cut hit television coverage of a match.
Some factories in Dhaka have also shut during games to reduce power blackouts.
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