A student-led graffiti painting campaign linked to the July Movement was disrupted by police in Chattogram on May 18, 2026. Around 15 to 20 students gathered at Tigerpass intersection after 1 p.m. to paint graffiti but were stopped by police. The students expressed frustration, claiming that the city corporation’s removal of July Movement graffiti was an attempt to erase the movement from public memory.

Tensions had been rising in Chattogram since Sunday evening after earlier graffiti was removed, leading to confrontations between BNP and NCP activists. Both groups had announced separate graffiti programs from Lalkhan Bazar to Tigerpass. To prevent unrest, authorities imposed Section 144 from GEC intersection to Dewanhat and deployed additional police. BNP and NCP leaders later suspended their programs in compliance with the order.

Deputy Police Commissioner (South) Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan stated that no gatherings were allowed under Section 144 and that no untoward incidents occurred, though some verbal exchanges took place when students resisted police inquiries.