Factional clashes on BCL founding day
Stick wielding activists of a faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Puthia upazila unit in Rajshahi district chase their rival partymen yesterday.Photo: STAR
At least 14 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were injured in factional clashes over holding programmes on the 63rd founding anniversary of the AL-backed student body in Rajshahi and Barisal yesterday. In Rajshahi, the clash erupted at Puthia upazila headquarters at around 11:00am when the BCL groups of local AL lawmaker Abdul Wadud Dara and district AL President Tajul Islam M Faruk tried to bring out separate processions, reports our staff correspondent. Both sides equipped with sticks chased each other and threw brickbats on Rajshahi-Dhaka highway, leaving at least ten people from both sides injured. The clashing groups also vandalised a passenger bus and several roadside shops. Movement of vehicles remained halted on the highway for one and a half hours from 11:30am. District BCL President GM Hira Bachchu and Puthia upazila BCL President Kamal Hossain were leading the Faruk group and upazila BCL General Secretary Mokbul Hossain was leading the Dara group during the clash. Meanwhile, three activists of BCL Rajshahi Medical College unit were seriously injured as their rival partymen hit them with sharp weapons on Monday. The injured--Anup Sarker Apu, Abdur Rahim Russel and Rakibuzzaman Jony --were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH). Police quoted witnesses as saying that a group of armed BCL men swooped on the three at a tea stall near RMC gate at around 9:00pm. Campus sources said the attack was a sequel to Sunday's attack on Mamun group by Sampad group that left one BCL worker injured. Shahidul Haq, officer-in-charge of Rajpara Police Station, said a case was filed against 12 BCL men in connection with the incident. In Barisal, two BCL factions yesterday clashed in the city over holding programmes on the occasion of the 63rd founding anniversary of the student body, according to a correspondent. Four BCL men were injured and a vehicle of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) and a tea stall were damaged during the clash in front of AL office at BCC annex building. Witnesses said a BCL activist belonging to Bappy group beat up Abdur Razzak of Barisal Polytechnic Institute unit after a BCL rally held in front of the BCC office at around 1:00 pm. Hearing the news, supporters of Razzak equipped with lethal weapons went to the spot and locked in a clash with their rivals. Police and Rab personnel dispersed the clashing groups and brought the situation under control at around 1:30pm.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments