3 hurt in BCL factional clash in Barisal polytechnic instt

Three persons, including a passer-by, were injured as alleged Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists armed with sharp weapons engaged in a factional clash at Barisal Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday night.

It was some eight hours after a similar clash on Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College at 2:00pm left at least five people, including a police official, injured.

Passer-by Shahinur Begum and students Nishad and Naim took treatment at local pharmacies, said sources.

Locals and students said followers of BCL Barisal district unit President Abdur Razzak and city unit President Jasimuddin clashed for around one hour over organising a freshers' reception in the institute's Muktijoddha Auditorium. Police arrived and the clash died down.

Both leaders, talking to The Daily Star, denied the allegations and claimed that the institute's students had a dispute with outsiders.

The institute's acting principal, Didarul Alam, acknowledged that both warring groups were of BCL.

The afternoon's clash was between supporters of Imran Hossain, president of the college unit BCL, and Anup Sarkar, another BCL leader, said sources. Both groups blamed each other.

The college authorities then imposed restrictions on all sorts of political activities on the campus for an indefinite period.