15 Sylhet BCL men hurt in MC College infighting

At least 15 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were injured, two by bullets, in a factional clash at MC College in Sylhet city yesterday, said police.

The two bullet-hit activists, Khairul Alam Shaheen and Ratan Gupta, were sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. Shaheen was later taken to Dhaka.

Police said the fighting was between the factions of Raihan Chowdhury, general secretary of Sylhet district BCL unit, and Kamrul Islam, joint secretary of the unit.

Witnesses said they used machetes, sticks, iron rods, and shotguns.

A witness and student of the college said the clash was linked to Sunday's incident of an activist of Raihan's faction slapping a senior activist loyal to Kamrul.

It was about establishing supremacy on the campus, said Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Shahporan Police Station.

He said the situation was under their control and reinforcements were sent to prevent further violence.

Abdus Samad, president of Sylhet district BCL, told The Daily Star that the fighting was centred on an altercation over a senior-junior issue.