Bangladesh News

More than 100 people, including students, police and journalists were injured in a series of clashes between the Islami Chhatra Shibir and the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiya Chhatra Samaj (JCS) at Lalbagh in the town yesterday.

Armed cadres of Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, allegedly fired shots during the clashes leaving at least one bullet-hit.

During the three-hour clashes, police charged batons on the Awami League-backed BCL and Jatiya Party-backed JCS leaders and activists and fired teargas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, sources said.

To protest the attack of police and Shibir cadres on them, BCL, JCS and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) backed Chhatra League under the banner of Sarbadalio Chhatra Oikya has called a strike at the Carmichael College today.

At least 50 of the critically injured, including one bullet-hit, were admitted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) and different private clinics in the town.

Among them are — District BCL Vice President Shipon, Shajid Parvej Jadu, Akteruzzaman Shaheen, Sujan Sagor, Golap, Touhidul, Dulal, Arifuzzaman, Bishnu, Aurangojeb, Momin and Tapon.

Shipon claimed that armed cadres of Shibir fired indiscriminately at the student and common people and thus Akteruzzaman got bullet-hit.

The clash ensued at about 10:00am near the main gate of the Carmichael College when Shibir activists of the college chased a BCL procession from Lalbagh bazaar, who were trying to re-enter the campus, sources said.

After chasing their opponents back, the Shibir men vandalised some roadside shops at the bazaar. Later, locals and Chhatra Samaj activists joined the BCL men and chased down the Shibir men leading to sporadic clashes between the two sides.

District BCL President Biplob Bishwas denounced the role of police during the clashes.

Instead of rein in the illegal activities of the Shibir men, police attacked the innocent leaders and activists of BCL and JCS, he alleged.

Contacted, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Police Station Zahidul denied the allegations accusing the BCL and JCS men of attacking the police.