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: April 23, 2026

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Other

Institution(s):Ishwardi government college

Region & Country:Southern Asia | Bangladesh

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On April 23, 2026, student groups clashed over establishing dominance on the campus of Ishwardi Government College.

Tensions escalated when crude bombs were set off, setting students and nearby residents into a panic. Several people, including students, were injured.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent clashes between student groups on campus. Scholars at Risk calls on all parties to exercise restraint and to avoid violence. State authorities have the right and obligation to maintain order, which they must with due regard for the rights of protesters and others, including the rights to free expression, academic freedom, peaceful assembly, and due process.

Sources:
https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/bd7a6d22ef41
https://viewsbangladesh.com/clash-between-chhatra-dal-shibir-in-ishwardi/
https://www.thedailystar.net/campus/news/chhatra-dal-shibir-clash-pabnas-ishwardi-govt-college-4158761