A dispute between a senior and a junior student at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) over addressing a senior as ‘bro’ instead of ‘bhai’ escalated into a physical altercation.

The dispute, which began on Tuesday (8 September) afternoon, flared up again at night on the Sher-e-Bangla Hall premises, leaving two students injured, reports RTV.

The injured students were identified as Hossain Sharif, a student of the 21st batch of the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, and Ratul Hasan Rumman, a student of the 23rd batch of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science.

According to eyewitnesses and the students involved, the incident began on Tuesday afternoon when Rumman called out to Sharif while getting into a lift at Bijoy-24 Hall, saying, ‘Hey bro, hold the lift.’ The remark led to an argument between the two. Later that night, the dispute resurfaced in front of the dining hall at Sher-e-Bangla Hall, where another argument broke out and the two students got into a physical altercation.

Rumman alleged that, as he was tired in the afternoon, he addressed Sharif as ‘bro’ instead of ‘bhai’ and asked him to hold the lift. Sharif then asked about his identity and prevented him from entering the lift, he claimed. Rumman further alleged that when they discussed the matter at night, he was reprimanded and assaulted.

Sharif, however, claimed that Rumman and several others blocked his way at night and asked about his identity before assaulting him. He said that when he tried to defend himself, his hand accidentally struck Rumman, causing a cut on his forehead.