One killed, 11 hurt as BCL factions clash in Barisal
An activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was killed and 11 others were injured as two factions of the ruling Awami League-backed student body clashed at Gournadi upazila town under Barisal district on Monday night.
The dead is Rumman Fakir, 22, an activist of BCL Gournadi Government College unit.
Police and locals said the two factions--one led by BCL Gournadi college unit President Lutfar Rahman Dwip and the other by General Secretary Jobayerul Islam Santu--had earlier clashed several times over sand lifting and control of the campus.
At around 9:30pm on Monday, Rumman, Hira and Ferdous of Luthfar faction came under attack by Santu group near local bus stand when they were going to meet AL leader and municipality Mayor Harisur Rahman Haris.
Hearing the news, BCL men belonging to Lutfar group rushed to the spot and locked in a clash with their rival party men. The two groups used firearms and exploded bombs during the clash, leaving at least 12 people from both sides injured.
The injured are Rumman Fakir, Ferdous Talukdar, Hira Bepari , Summon Mia, Bellal Mia, Rabiul Khan, Imran Hossain, Motaleb Kazi of Lutfar group and Taslim Kabiraj, Russel Howladar, Russel Bepari and Asaduzzaman Babu of Santu group.
Of them, Rumman, Ferdous and Hira were admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in a critical condition while the rest to the upazila health complex and private clinics.
Police from Gournadi Police Station rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control at midnight.
Critically injured Rumman was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital at 3:00am yesterday as his condition deteriorated. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital at 9:30am.
Hearing the death news, BCL activists of Lutfar faction brought out a procession in the town. They ransacked vehicles and blocked Dhaka-Barisal highway at Kasba-Torki point at around 11:30am. Police dispersed the agitating BCL men and removed barricades from the road at 12:30pm.
Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Gournadi Police Station, said Shamima Begum, mother of Rumman Fakir, lodged a case against 18 BCL men, including Jubayerul Islam Santu. After filing of the case, police arrested Santu. Law enforcers are looking for the other accused in the case, the OC said.
Additional police have been deployed at the upazila headquarters to avert any further incident.
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