The Principal of Comilla Victoria College, Professor Md. Abul Bashar Bhuiyan, has been attacked. Following the attack, several teachers and the vice-principal have been trapped inside the administrative building. The incident occurred around noon on Friday, February 28.
Professor Md. Abul Bashar Bhuiyan, the Principal of Comilla Victoria College, was attacked by local youth in the college premises on Friday afternoon. The attack occurred before the Friday prayers. Several teachers and the vice-principal are currently trapped inside the administrative building.
The roots of the violence trace back to a clash between two factions of Tablighi Jamaat followers, Maulana Saad and Maulana Zubair, on January 13, 2025, at the college’s degree branch mosque. Following this, on January 20, the college administration, led by the principal, temporarily suspended Tablighi Jamaat’s weekly lectures. This led to long-standing disputes. On January 21, the principal was trapped inside the college by students and local residents of the nearby area, who had issues with the suspension.
In early February, the college administration dismissed Imam Md. Maruf Billah after multiple allegations were raised against him. On February 18, the college announced a new job vacancy for the position of imam. Since then, a faction of locals has been demanding the reinstatement of the former imam during Friday prayers.
On Friday, before the prayers began, local youth attacked the principal. They struck him, and when students from Nazrul Hall tried to intervene, they too were attacked. The police arrived at the scene but initially retreated due to the aggression of the locals, though they later returned to the college. The situation remains tense, with the authorities working to control it.
Gazi Muhammad Golam Sohrab Hasan, the Secretary of the Comilla Victoria College Teachers’ Association, confirmed that the principal and several teachers were injured in the attack. He said, “We are currently trapped, and this incident is mainly linked to the issue surrounding the dismissal of the imam.”
Liberty News’ campus correspondent states that OC Mohinul Islam from Comilla Kotwali Model Police Station stated, “We have sent police to the scene after receiving information. I am also heading to the college.”
LND/BG
