Leaders of the Shahbagh Opposition Alliance claimed that leftist activists provoked the clash at Rajshahi University (RU) by initiating physical altercations and throwing flaming torches at opposition demonstrators. In a press conference following the incident involving the Democratic Student Alliance and the Shahbagh Opposition group, G. A. Sabbir read a written statement saying the protest was organized to oppose the 2013 Shahbagh Gonojagoron Mancha, which he labeled as a mob that interfered with the country's judicial process. Sabbir added that despite their efforts, they failed to prevent the violence due to the other side’s aggressiveness. He also criticized the Chhatra Dal's stance during the incident.