Fierce clashes by BCL factions at IU: 25 hurt
Two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Islamic University (IU) unit clashed on the campus and at a nearby bazar yesterday, leaving at least 25 activists from both sides injured.
The university BCL unit is divided into two groups. One is led by President Jahangir Hossain and General Secretary Shamsuzzaman Tuhin, while the other by organising secretaries Abu Jar Gifari Al Gaffar and Ali Murtoza Khasru.
The clash was a sequel to Monday's attack on Hafizur Rahman of Gaffar-Khasru group by the supporters of Jahangir-Tuhin group.
They stabbed Hafiz following an altercation over control of the campus at around 4:00pm. He was admitted to the IU medical centre and then shifted to Kushtia General Hospital as his condition deteriorated.
Protesting the attack, Gaffar-Khasru group blocked Kushtia-Khulna highway and halted movements of university staff buses yesterday morning.
They took away keys of all the 19 staff buses of the university from the drivers at Customs intersection in Kushtia town and Arabpur intersection in Jhenidah where the buses were parked.
Gaffar-Khasru group returned to the campus at around 11:00am and took position at Social Science faculty while Jahangir-Tuhin faction at the administrative building. Both groups were chanting slogans against each other.
The clash ensued when Gaffar-Khasru group chased their rivals at around 1:00pm. Both factions, equipped with firearms, locked in a fierce clash, leaving at least 15 activists from the two groups injured, campus sources said.
“We have heard the sound of gunshots from IU campus, said Additional superintendent of Police (SP) Subhash Chandra Saha. Police rushed to the campus, fired blank shots and tear gas shells to disperse the clashing groups.
Both factions further locked in a clash at Sheikhpara Bazar near the campus at around 1:30pm. At least 10 people were injured in the clash. Police also rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
BCL university unit General Secretary Shamsuzzaman Tuhin branded Gaffar and Kharsu as outlawed party cadres and demanded immediate arrest of the two.
Gaffar blamed Jahangir-Tuhin group for the clash and urged the university authorities to take actions against their rivals.
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