A clash between rival student factions at the Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (DUET) in Gazipur injured at least 20 people on Sunday, including police officers, a local government official and journalists, after protests over the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.

The government recently named Professor Mohammad Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology to the post. The gazette notification drew immediate opposition from a section of students, who from Thursday night staged demonstrations, human chains and road blockades demanding that the vice-chancellor be chosen from among the university’s own faculty.

On Sunday morning, students gathered near the campus’s Shaheed Minar for what they termed a “red card” programme. A second faction assembled in support of the newly appointed vice-chancellor. Tensions flared when the protesting group padlocked the main gate and the pro-appointment side attempted to force it open. Both sides then hurled bricks and stones before police fired tear shells to regain control.

Among the wounded were several members of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, Gazipur Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Shazzat Hossain and a number of passers-by.

Md Aminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gazipur Sadar Metro police station, said he and at least five other policemen had been injured. “The situation is now under control and we’re holding talks with the students,” he added.

The agitating students described their campaign as a spontaneous movement of the general students. They argued that the university’s academic structure, research profile and administrative realities required a vice-chancellor drawn from internal faculty.