Sunday, 09 March, 2025
A violent clash broke out between two groups at Cumilla Victoria Government College over the dismissal of the mosque’s imam, leaving the college's principal, Professor Mohammad Abul Bashar Bhuiyan, and several other teachers injured.
The attack began around noon on Friday, just before Jummah prayers. Local youths and teenagers assaulted the principal, striking him multiple times. As students from the nearby Nazrul Hall rushed to the scene, they too were attacked by the assailants.
Amid the chaos, the principal, vice-principal, and other teachers were trapped inside the college’s administrative building. Police initially arrived but were forced to retreat due to the aggression of the attackers. They later re-entered the campus, but tensions remain high.
Gazi Mohammad Golam Sohrab Hasan, Secretary of the College Teachers' Council, confirmed the attack, stating, “The principal and other teachers have been injured. We are now confined.” He attributed the incident to the imam’s dismissal, which had sparked the unrest.
On January 13, a clash broke out between two factions of the Tablighi Jamaat—followers of Maulana Saad and Maulana Jubayer—at the Degree Branch mosque of Cumilla Victoria Government College. In response, on January 20, Principal Professor Mohammad Abul Bashar Bhuiyan announced the temporary suspension of the weekly Tablighi Jamaat teaching sessions.
Tensions escalated further on January 21, when students from Nazrul Hall and local residents from Dharmpur confined the principal inside the college premises from 11:20 AM to 12:40 PM.
In early February, the college administration dismissed Imam Mohammad Maruf Billah following multiple allegations against him. A recruitment notice for a new imam was subsequently published on February 18. However, the decision sparked unrest, with a local faction demanding the imam’s reinstatement before every Friday prayer. This ongoing dispute has led to repeated clashes involving local residents, college students, and teachers.
Mahinul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station in Cumilla, stated, “We received reports of scuffles and responded to the scene. I am on my way there now.”
Cumilla Victoria Government College, one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in Bangladesh, was established in 1899 in the historic city of Cumilla. Named after Queen Victoria, the college has played a significant role in shaping the country’s academic and socio-political landscape. It offers higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs in various disciplines, attracting students from across the nation.
The institution is renowned for its vibrant student activism, cultural heritage, and academic excellence. Over the years, it has been a hub for political movements, including student-led protests and socio-religious debates.
With a legacy spanning over a century, Cumilla Victoria College remains committed to upholding its tradition of academic excellence and producing future leaders who contribute to the nation’s progress.
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A violent clash broke out between two groups at Cumilla Victoria Government College over the dismissal of the mosque’s imam, leaving the college's principal, Professor Mohammad Abul Bashar Bhuiyan, and several other teachers injured.
The attack began around noon on Friday, just before Jummah prayers. Local youths and teenagers assaulted the principal, striking him multiple times. As students from the nearby Nazrul Hall rushed to the scene, they too were attacked by the assailants.
Amid the chaos, the principal, vice-principal, and other teachers were trapped inside the college’s administrative building. Police initially arrived but were forced to retreat due to the aggression of the attackers. They later re-entered the campus, but tensions remain high.
Gazi Mohammad Golam Sohrab Hasan, Secretary of the College Teachers' Council, confirmed the attack, stating, “The principal and other teachers have been injured. We are now confined.” He attributed the incident to the imam’s dismissal, which had sparked the unrest.
On January 13, a clash broke out between two factions of the Tablighi Jamaat—followers of Maulana Saad and Maulana Jubayer—at the Degree Branch mosque of Cumilla Victoria Government College. In response, on January 20, Principal Professor Mohammad Abul Bashar Bhuiyan announced the temporary suspension of the weekly Tablighi Jamaat teaching sessions.
Tensions escalated further on January 21, when students from Nazrul Hall and local residents from Dharmpur confined the principal inside the college premises from 11:20 AM to 12:40 PM.
In early February, the college administration dismissed Imam Mohammad Maruf Billah following multiple allegations against him. A recruitment notice for a new imam was subsequently published on February 18. However, the decision sparked unrest, with a local faction demanding the imam’s reinstatement before every Friday prayer. This ongoing dispute has led to repeated clashes involving local residents, college students, and teachers.
Mahinul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station in Cumilla, stated, “We received reports of scuffles and responded to the scene. I am on my way there now.”
Cumilla Victoria Government College, one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in Bangladesh, was established in 1899 in the historic city of Cumilla. Named after Queen Victoria, the college has played a significant role in shaping the country’s academic and socio-political landscape. It offers higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs in various disciplines, attracting students from across the nation.
The institution is renowned for its vibrant student activism, cultural heritage, and academic excellence. Over the years, it has been a hub for political movements, including student-led protests and socio-religious debates.
With a legacy spanning over a century, Cumilla Victoria College remains committed to upholding its tradition of academic excellence and producing future leaders who contribute to the nation’s progress.
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