SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: August 27, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology

Region & Country:Southern Asia | Bangladesh

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On August 27, 2025, Bangladeshi police forces clashed with student protesters from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

The engineering students staged a protest with a series of demands that included increased recruitment standards for incoming students, a restructured quota for promotions, legal action against the misuse of the “engineer” title, and a redefinition of engineering roles in the workplace

Police intercepted the students as they marched toward the residence of the Chief Adviser of the interim government in Bangladesh. As demonstrators broke through barricades, security forces fired tear gas, used water cannons, and deployed sound grenades. Students responded by throwing bricks. At least fifty students and eight policemen were injured.

In response, students declared a “complete shutdown” at all engineering universities, which lasted until early September 2025. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner apologized to the students, and the government formed a committee to examine the demands of the engineering graduates and diploma engineers.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/police-charge-truncheons-students-marching-jamuna-3971976
https://www.sentinelassam.com/more-news/international/bangladesh-50-injured-in-police-crackdown-on-students-protesting-outside-yunus-residence