Students scuffle with teachers at RU over quota dispute

A tense confrontation took place at Rajshahi University (RU) on Saturday, September 20, 2025, over the contentious issue of the quota. 

The incident occurred around 4:00 pm on the balcony of the university’s Zuberi Bhaban, where students engaged in a heated clash with the university’s vice-chancellor and proctor. 

The situation escalated as students later blocked the officials. 

As of 5:30 pm, students continued their protest by surrounding the vice-chancellor and several teachers.

The clash resulted in injuries to multiple individuals, including Salahuddin Ammar, a former coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, and Al Shahriar Shuvo, general secretary of the branch student rights council.

Earlier in the afternoon, students had locked the residence of the vice-chancellors, preventing Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Main Uddin Khan and Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman from entering. Unable to access the residence, the officials returned to the university. 

As they approached Zuberi Bhaban, students followed, chanting slogans in protest. 

Tensions rose when a university teacher and a printing official attempted to block the students from reaching the balcony of Zuberi Bhaban, leading to a scuffle. 

During the altercation, students surrounded Professor Main Uddin Khan, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, on all sides. 

As the situation intensified, Professor Khan moved to the second floor of Zuberi Bhaban, where students blocked him on the balcony. At this point, Professor Kamal Uddin from the Persian Language and Literature Department, Registrar Professor Iftikharul Alam Masud, and other faculty members arrived at the scene.

Efforts to reach the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib, for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.

Commenting on the incident, Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman stated, “The students were protesting. At one point, they blocked the car of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor in the administration building. Later, he began walking toward his residence but was not allowed to proceed. He then proposed a discussion at Zuberi Bhaban. As he entered the building, students moved forward and blocked his path, leading to a scuffle. I am unaware of the details of who initiated it or how it began.”