M M Jasim :
Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of ruling Awami League, on Monday locked into factional clashes in different parts of the country over establishing supremacy in its anniversary programmes, leaving at least 100 injured.
The day was the 68th founding anniversary of BCL.
BCL’s former general secretary Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton and former Dhaka North City Unit general secretary and incumbent assistant secretary of Awami League (sub committee) Golam Sarwar Kabir also received injuries in an incident on the Dhaka University campus in the afternoon.
“BCL activists locked into factional clashes only to show heroism on the day tarnishing the image of the organisation,” a Dhaka University (DU) BCL leader told The New Nation, asking not to be named. He added: The unruly activists also harassed former senior BCL leaders in Dhaka. A clash occurred between the activists of Dhaka City College and Leather Technology Institute in front of the Fine Arts Faculty on the Dhaka University campus at 1:00pm. Roton, Kabir and other 10 activists were injured in the incident.
Golam Sarwar Kabir received treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH)
Kabir told The New Nation on Monday evening that the clash occurred when he and Roton were walking in front of the Fine Arts Faculty after joining the anniversary programme held at ‘Aparajeya Bangla’ on DU campus. “Suddenly, we fell in between the feuding groups of activists of the two colleges who were pelting brickbats to each other. Some brickbats also hit him and Roton leaving them injured,” Kabir added.
Like previous occasion, BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag denied the allegation and claimed that the anniversary programmes, including rallies, were held peacefully with much enthusiasm all over the country.
“None of the BCL leaders and activists was involved in any clash,” he said, claiming, “If any one locked into clash he was not BCL man”.
In Chittagong, at least 20 BCL activists were injured when the followers of former Mayor ABM Mahiuddin Chowdhury and incumbent Cittagong City Mayor AZM Nasir Uddin locked into clashes on the premises of Shaheed Minar under Kotwali Police Station on Monday, reports our Chittagong correspondent.
BCL sources said that City College unit BCL and MES College activists locked into clashes over establishing supremacy in the BCL programmes. At one stage one group locked into clashes with another group.
On information, Kotwali police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Jasim Uddin said, they heard the news of clash and the situation under control. However, no one was detained in this regard, he said.
Meanwhile, at least 10 BCL activists were injured in a clash between the two groups of Sylhet BCL at Rakabi Bazar area at 2:00pm. The BCL men also vandalized 10 shops, including SM Traders, Bangla Pharmacy and Ajanta Tailors. To protest the incident the businessmen of the area blocked the road for half an hour.
Earlier on Sunday, police banned all the rallies and procession in Sylhet Municipality area to avert any untoward incident. But the Sylhet district unit BCL president Shahriar Alam Samad and general secretary M Rayhan Chowdhury brought out a procession in the city. When the procession reached in Rakabi Bazar area the clash occurred that left 10 activists injured.
Officer-in-Charge of Sylhet Kotwali Model Police Station said the BCL men locked into clashes for their factional feud and vandalized the shops. The police brought the situation under control, reports our Sylhet correspondent.
Our Barisal Correspondent adds: Two groups of BCL Barisal City unit involved in clashes over establishing supremacy in the municipality area on Monday. At least seven activists were injured in the incident.
BM College BCL leader Moin Tusar group and Nahid Serniabat group locked into the clashes in front of the college gate.
Our Cox’s Bazar Correspondent adds: At least eight leaders and activists of Cox’s Bazar Medical College unit were injured in a clash over celebrating the founding anniversary of BCL.
Our Thakurgaon Correspondent adds: At least 12 BCL activists were injured in a clash in front of Balaka Cinema Hall of the district over establishing supremacy in the BCL’s founding day’s programmes.
The police fired four rounds tear shells and brought the situation under control.
The injured were admitted to different medical centers of the district for treatment.
Our Brahmanbaria Correspondent adds: At least 15 leaders and activists of BCL, Brahmanbaria unit were injured in a clash at Brahmanbaria Government College over establishing supremacy in the area.
