8 injured as BCL factions clash in Chittagong College

At least eight activists were injured, including two suffering bullet wounds, during a clash between two Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) factions in Chittagong College yesterday around noon.

Of the injured, Nijhum Parial, 22, and Md Monir, 22, shot in the legs, and Humayun Tipu, 20, were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Imran Ahmed Tipu, 24, Khademul Islam Durjoy, 22, Kanik Barua, 21, Jamal Uddin, 21, and Md Kayser, 19, were admitted to private hospitals.

There is no BCL unit in the college. The warring factions claimed they were followers of Awami League Chittagong city unit President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury and General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin.

When asked to comment on this reference, Mohiuddin over the phone said, “Do I study in the college?...What did you find in the spot? Whatever you smelled in the spot, give that.” Nasir did not pick up repeated calls on his cellphone last evening.

Witnesses said one group of activists, chanting slogans in favour of Nasir and welcoming admission seekers, were entering the college in a procession around 12:30pm when Mohiuddin's followers stopped them, leading to altercations.

A clash erupted, the groups chased each other and at one point some brandished firearms and fired shots, said several students wishing not to be named. This continued till 2:30pm when admission seekers took refuge inside the college's buildings.

Both groups blamed each other of first attacking first and police for not taking action. Chawkbazar police arrested none. No complaints were filed.