Two killed on Hajee Danesh campus

Two Chhatra League men were killed and over 30 other people injured last night in a factional clash on Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University campus in Dinajpur.

The victims are Mahmudul Hasan Milton, 26, a master's final-year student, and Md Zakaria, 22, a BBA second-year student of the university.

The two were activists of the university BCL unit, said Asaduzzaman Jeni, assistant secretary of the unit.

They were stabbed during a clash that ensued after participants of a cultural programme marking Pahela Baishakh were attacked by a BCL faction around 8:00pm, witnesses said.

The faction is led by Iftekharul Islam Real and Arun Kanti Roy, president and general secretary of the campus BCL.

Students and guardians, among others, were present at the programme organised by veterinary department at the university auditorium.

Minutes before the attack, power connection to the auditorium was snapped from outside. Then several crude bombs were blasted in quick succession, which created panic, campus sources said.

On hearing the news, another faction led by Asaduzzaman and Nayan swooped on the rivals with sharp weapons, triggering a clash that spread in other parts of the campus.

Apart from sharp weapons, both factions used wooden sticks in the attack.

On information, police rushed to the scene and fired 30 rubber bullets to disperse the clashing groups.

Another police team entered the campus around 10:30pm and recovered Zakaria's body from the roof of Nur Hossain Hall.

Milton, the other victim, died at Dinajpur Medical College Hospital.

Proctor ATM Shafiqul Islam blamed Arun and his group for the attack. Arun's phone was found switched off.

Additional police were deployed in and around the campus as tension remained high.

Following the attack, the university authority sat in an emergency meeting to decide the next course of action. The meeting was on at 1:00am today when this report was filed.