SM Mizan with Hasan Rony :
At least 15 students were injured in a clash between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on the Islamic University campus in Kushtia over postponing the teachers’ appointment process on Thursday.
“The clash ensued around 11.30 am between the supporters of president M Saiful Islam and vice president Mizanur Rahman Mizu of BCL unit of the university when the former chairman of Statistic Department Kamal Uddin Ahmed wanted to recruit their chosen candidates in a board meeting yesterday for the department,” a teacher of the university preferring not be named said.
He said, “But the incumbent chairman of the department Altaf Hossain strongly opposed the board meeting and put pressure on the Vice-Chancellor to shift the date.”
Following the incident Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Hakim Sarker postponed the teachers’ recruitment board meeting on Thursday evening.
The leaders and workers of the two factions chased each other with stick and firearms in front of the vice-chancellor’s office at administrative building on the campus.
“At one stage, Shishir Islam Babu belonging to the president M Saiful Islam group opened fire on Saidur Rahman, a BCL worker loyal to vice-president Mizanur Rahman in presence of the Vice-Chancellor,” students of the university said.
The other students who also received injuries have been identified as Jewel Rana Halim, Faisal Arafat Kamruzzaman Sagor, Razu Ahmed, Ataur Rahman and Noman Robin.
The injured students were given first aid at the university medical centre. However, Saidur Rahman was rushed to the Kushtia Sadar Hospital as he sustained bullet wounds.
When contacted Officer-in-Charge of University Police Station Shafiqul Islam said they brought the situation under control.
“Additional police have been deployed on and around the campus to avert further untoward incident,” he said.
Replying to a query about shooting on the campus, the OC said they do not have such information.
When contacted Professor Md. Rafiqul Islam of the university termed the incident as unfortunate saying it is very painful to experience when the teachers use students for establishing their supremacy over controlling the department.
“We don’t want to witness repetition of such incidents,” he added.
According to administrative building sources, former chairman of the department Kamal Uddin Ahmed called the teachers’ recruitment board meeting.
“But the incumbent chairman of the department Altaf Hossain strongly opposed the board meeting and put pressure on the vice-chancellor to shift the date,” an official of the administrative building said.
IU BCL unit president M Saiful Islam said as a gang of terrorists tried to go for rampage on the campus when they tried to stop them.
“I know nothing about any shooting on the campus,” he said, denying the allegation about firing by his follower Babu.
However, IU BCL unit vice president Mizanur Rahman accused Saiful Islam of shooting his followers.
‘As per Saiful directive, Babu shot at our two BCL workers. Of them condition of Saidur Rahman is stated to be critical. Shishir Islam Babu is an identified terrorist on the campus. He always roams the campus with firearms. We are demanding his immediate expulsion from the university and arrest,” he said.
Talking to journalists Proctor Professor M Mahbubar Rahman claimed the situation is now under control.
