1 dead, 25 hurt in Shibir-JCD gunbattle

Authorities closed the institute sine die after the clash that erupted following an altercation between the two pro-government student groups over first-year admissions.

Campus sources said ICS cadres clashed with JCD activists at about 10:00am and drove them out of campus after the JCD men reportedly tore up an official waiting list of first-year admission seekers because it reportedly did not reflect their choice of candidates.

Later around noon, the JCD regrouped and swooped on the ICS, sparking off a gunfight between the two groups that exchanged at least 20 rounds of fire. Police later fired blank shots to disperse the two groups.

The clash left an ICS activist dead on the spot. The victim was identified as Shafiqur Rahman, a 3rd-year student of Kushtia Government College.

ICS however claimed that Shafiqur died in police fire, but Officer-in-charge Naimur Rahman of Kushtia Sadar Police Station denied.

At least seven people sustained bullet injuries. They are Sultan Maruf, Jahangir Hossain, Mashuk, Shahin, Mehedi Hasan and Palash -- all ICS loyalists --, and JCD cadre Mustak Hossain, whose injuries are reportedly serious. All were admitted to Kushtia General Hospital.

Both groups brought out demonstrations after the incident.

Additional police have been deployed on the campus. Kushtia Superintendent of Police Abdus Salam visited the spot.

A tense situation prevailed in the town.