Chittagong Bureau :Two factions of the Chittagong University (CU) unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) once again showed its penchant for gunbattle on the campus on Sunday that left one more of their fellow dead and 20 others injured.Earlier, on November 20 this year, one BCL man was killed and many others injured when two factions of the pro-ruling Awami League student body (BCL) locked in a gunbattle at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet.Witnesses said, the BCL activists loyal to Amit Kumar Basu and Suman Mamun, vice president and joint general secretary respectively of the recently dissolved CU unit committee of BCL locked into an altercation with their rival faction led by Jalal Ahmed and Ariful Islam, office secretary and organising secretary respectively of the same committee, went to the Varsity Shaheed Minar to place wreaths around 10:30am to pay tribute to the Martyred Intellectuals.At one stage, both the BCL factions got entangled in an altercation over their dominance at the Shaheed Minar. Soon after, their heated talk lead to the deadly fighting.Later, both the factions took shelter in front of their dormitories (Shahjajal and Shah Amanat Halls) and fought for half an hour exchanging several rounds gunshots to each other that left at least 20 injured, some with gunshot wounds.Among the bullet injured, Taposh Paul, a first year student of the Department of Sanskrit and Pali, was immediately rushed to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on critical condition.But he was declared dead at around 12.30pm by on duty doctors of CMCH when he was brought there, Jahangir, Nayek of CMCH Police Outpost, told our Chittagong correspondent.He (Taposh) was hit by a bullet in his chest, Jahangir said. Taposh, 20, son of Babul Sarkar and Anjali Sarkar, was hailed from Sunamganj district.Alauddin Alam, Al Amin Ripon and Sabbir Hossain, among others injured, were admitted in CMCH for treatment. As the death news spread in the campus, both the groups locked into another round of clash marked by chase and counter chase. During the second round clash that lasted for more than one hour, the BCL men were seen carrying arms and machetes in front of the law enforcers. Police fired at least 30 rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the unruly BCL men. The law enforcers later carried out a raid at the Shahjalal Hall and detained 27 activists of BCL’s VX Group. Md Ismail Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Hathazari Police Station said, police rushed to the spot on information and brought the situation under control.Additional police forces have been deployed on the campus after the clash to avert further untoward situation, he added. Sources said, the latest factional clash by BCL men on the CU campus was a showdown for both the groups as they are trying to establish domination on the campus to grab as many posts as they can in CU BCL’s upcoming committee.They said Amit-led group was ousted from the campus eight months ago after it failed to maintain its sway in the face of opposition from Jalal and his followers. In the meantime, the factions have clashed several times.Meanwhile, the university authorities have formed a five-member body, headed by its student affairs advisor Prof Dr Khan Towhid Osman, to investigate the clash.The committee has been asked to submit its report within next 15 working days. The decision came at an emergency Syndicate meeting held on Sunday night with CU Vice-chancellor Prof Anwarul Azim Arif in the chair.The meeting also decided that the regular activities of the university, including classes and examinations, will continue.However, additional police will remain deployed on the campus to fend off further trouble, said CU Proctor Prof Sirajuddoula. In another development, police in a raid recovered huge arms from the BCL-controlled Shahjalal Hall of the university after the clash.Additional police super (North) M Shahidullah said they conducted the drive at the dormitory around 3:30pm. During the drive that lasted for one and half an hours, police recovered two pistols, 20 choppers, 20 machetes and iron rods and six bullets.
