A violent clash broke out between Indigenous students and members of Students for Sovereignty (SFS) in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Dhaka on Wednesday (January 15). The altercation occurred during protests against the removal of a controversial artwork from the cover of a Bengali second language textbook for classes 9 and 10, which depicted Indigenous peoples alongside other religious communities.

The protests were organized after the image featuring the words "Indigenous," "Muslim," "Hindu," "Christian," and "Buddhist" written on leaves of a tree was removed from the textbook. This image was part of the textbook’s back cover and had sparked a national debate after its removal. Indigenous students, upset by the removal, gathered to demand the reinstatement of the artwork, while members of the Students for Sovereignty group supported the decision to remove it, resulting in a standoff.

At around 1:00 PM, as both groups stood facing each other, law enforcement formed a human barricade to keep the protesters apart. However, tensions escalated, and the barricade was broken, leading to a violent clash between the two factions. During the confrontation, at least ten people from both sides were injured as a result of the fighting and the ensuing chase.

Following the altercation, the police took action to disperse the crowd and restore order, but the situation remained tense. In response to the violence, Indigenous students announced plans to hold nationwide protests the following day, escalating the issue further.

Meanwhile, members of Students for Sovereignty also protested, demanding justice for the alleged attacks. They gathered near the Motijheel metro station, where law enforcement increased their presence in an attempt to prevent further unrest.

The controversy began on January 12, when a group of Dhaka University students, under the banner of Students for Sovereignty, called for a protest outside the NCTB office. That evening, the controversial image was removed from the online version of the textbook. The artwork, which featured the five communities, had been part of the textbook cover, with the phrase “Do not tear the leaves” written alongside the tree illustration.

The protests, followed by the violent clash, reflect the growing divisions over the issue of cultural representation and the portrayal of Indigenous communities in educational materials. The local authorities have assured that they are taking strict measures to maintain peace and resolve the tensions surrounding the incident.