35 hurt as BCL men run riot at IU
At least 35 people, including five cops, were injured as Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men went on the rampage at Islamic University, Bangladesh today.
Barred from bringing out a procession protesting the Israeli aggression against Gaza under party banner, the university unit Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir took out the procession under the banner of general students around 11:30am, said campus sources.
As soon as the Shibir men left the campus after the procession, a group of 30-40 BCL activists, led by its convener Shamim Ahmed and joint convener Abujar Gifari Gaffar, rushed to the main entrance of the university in a procession carrying sticks.
At one stage, they ran riot and vandalised at least 15 vehicles of the university, including a double-decker bus gifted by Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.
They also attacked the vehicles of the vice-chancellor and pro-VC while they were returning from the auditorium after attending a programme marking Janmashtami.
As policemen tried to deter them from the attack, the BCL men engaged in a clash with them.
Later, they vandalised the offices of the proctor and student advisor and the administrative building.
The unruly men also beat three policemen -- constables Tariqul, Monir and Tuhin -- when they tried to prevent them.
Finally, the law enforcers fired eight rounds of rubber bullet and lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control, leaving 25 BCL men injured, including six with bullets.
Besides, five university employees were injured in the police action.
Five of the injured BCL men were admitted to Kushtia Medical College Hospital while four others to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital. The rest took first aid.
Officer-in-charge of Islamic University Police Station Shariful Islam Janak said the BCL men vandalised several vehicles and attacked police.
University Proctor Dr Mahbubur Rahman said action will be taken against whose responsible after investigation.
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