SA Shofiee, Sylhet Correspondent :The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) has been closed sine die following the death of a student in a clash between the two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of ruling Awami League. The decision of closure was taken at an emergency syndicate meeting of the university on Thursday afternoon chaired by SUST Vice-Chancellor Aminul Haque Bhuiyan as panic spread across the campus following the clash.The deceased, identified as Sumon Roy, a third year LLB student of Sylhet International University, was killed and 20 others were injured when the two BCL factions locked in the gun battle over establishing supremacy on the campus around 10.45am.However, the admission process of first year honours, which is scheduled to begin from November 25, will be held on time, the VC said.Syndicate Member and General Secretary of SUST Teachers Association Farid Uddin told The New Nation that the authorities decided to close the university sine die asking the male students to vacate their respective dormitories by 4:00pm on Thursday and the female students by tomorrow (Friday) morning. Anjan Kumar Das, the incumbent convener of BCL SUST unit, is among the bullet-hit injured who were rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital for treatment.Witnesses said the activists locked in the gunfight when the BCL activists belonging to Anjan’s faction barred the followers of Shamsuzzaman from entering the campus. At least 10 gunshots were fired and several crude bombs exploded during the clash spiralling panic among the general students, the witnesses added.According to the students, at least 150 followers of SUST BCL unit Secretary General Imran Khan, who had been absent from the campus for long time, entered the university at around 10:00am equipped with firearms and sharp weapons. They later vandalized 40 rooms of three dormitories (Shah Paran Hall, Bangabandhu and Syed Mujtaba Ali), university library and academic building with a view to establishing supremacy on the campus.Later, a chase and counter chase ensued and both the factions fired at each other and exploded handmade bombs, leaving one dead and at least 20 others bullet injured. “Suman was brought with bullet injuries. He died while being taken to the operation theatre,” said Omar Faruk, a doctor of the hospital’s emergency department.SUST Proctor Himadri Shekhar Roy, who was hit by rubber bullets fired by police, was treated at the university’s medical centre.On information, police rushed the campus and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, said Officer-in-Charge of Jalalabad Police Station Akter Hossain.He said both the groups fired at least 20 gunshots and exploded several crude bombs during the two hours long clash that created panic among the general students.Additional police forces have been deployed on the campus to avert further untoward incident, he said.
