Nightlong violence rocks Kamrangirchar

Kamrangirchar at the edge of Dhaka city was thrown into chaos and panic on Thursday night over a tripartite clash involving police and two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

The clash, which police believe was rooted in BCL men's attempts to establish supremacy and take control of local drug trade, started around 6:30pm and went on for nine hours.

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A police officer sustained head injuries, a van of the law forcers was vandalised and the power lines to the area were snapped during the fighting, witnesses and police said.

Kamrangirchar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahin Fakir told The Daily Star the two groups of the pro-Awami League student front are led respectively by Saidur Rahman Ratan and Mursalin Hossain.

However, Mursalin, a joint convener of Kamrangirchar BCL, claimed he is a supporter of Ratan, former president of the unit.

He said the clash ensued between Mohammad Hossain and Ratan groups. “Hossain aided by Parvez Hossain Biplab, convener of the BCL unit, attacked us,” Mursalin said, adding that three of their men were injured.

Mohammad Hossain, councilor of ward-56 and also a former president of the BCL unit, refuted the allegation and put the blame on Ratan group.

The OC said, “The two groups have long been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy and taking control of drug trade in the area.”

A witness, seeking anonymity, said it all began after some men of Ratan vandalised a business establishment of Shakil, a follower of Mursalin in Kalunagar area around 6:30pm.

Around 300 activists of the two groups pelted brick chips at each other and blasted several handmade bombs, he said.

Kamrangirchar police took position between the two groups and tried to bring the situation under control by shooting teargas shells, OC Fakir said. Later, a platoon from Rajarbagh Police joined them.

The two groups armed with local weapons then retaliated at police and they got locked in the clash that lasted until 3:00am yesterday.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Nur Hossain, 26, sustained head injuries in the clash and was rushed to Rajarbagh Police Lines Hospital, the OC said.

Several residents of the area said the hoodlums vandalised street lights and cut off electric cables creating a blackout in the areas, which caused a serious panic among the locals.

Nobody was arrested in this connection; the process of filing a police assault case was underway.

The Daily Star tried to reach other BCL men involved in the incident despite several attempts.