Deprived JCD men clash with rivals

A burning motorbike. Photo: Star

Chhatra Dal activists clashed in Sylhet and staged demonstration in the capital yesterday over formation of its new local and central committees.

 At least 10 JCD men were injured when a clash broke out between two rival factions of the student body in Zindabzar of Sylhet city.

Witnesses said about 100 JCD activists held a rally and brought out a procession at the city's court point in the afternoon under the banner of Ilias Mukti Chhatra Sangram Parishad. The programme was organised marking the 30th month of disappearance of former BNP lawmaker Ilias Ali.

When the protesters were returning from the area around 4:30pm, some rival JCD men attacked them, causing the casualties. Of the injured, Jahirul Islam sustained stab wounds.

Stick-wielding JCD activists. Photo: Star

Five motorcycles were set ablaze during a chase and counter chase between the two groups in Zindabazar and Shaheed Minar areas.

Police fired blank shots to disperse Chhatra Dal men, said Mohammad Rahmat Ullah, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police. Two JCD activists were rounded up from the area.

Sources in the JCD said some leaders were disgruntled about not making it to the Sylhet city and district unit committees of the student body. The two committees were declared on September 18.

City JCD General Secretary Abu Saleh Md Lokman and his followers came under attack yesterday from the rebels who had already rejected the new committees.

A policeman in action during a factional feud of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in Sylhet yesterday. Photo: Star

DEMO IN CAPITAL

Rejecting the new central committee of Chhatra Dal, a group of JCD men staged demonstration and brought out a procession in front of the Nayapaltan headquarters of BNP yesterday.

The agitators said the new committee is “in the pocket” of Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, BNP's student affairs secretary; and former JCD president Sultan Salauddin Tuku.

Talking to The Daily Star, an assistant general secretary of JCD's last committee said they staged the demonstration as they wanted to “save Chhatra Dal and BNP from the agents of the government.”     

On Tuesday, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia approved a 201-member partial committee of the party's associated student body, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.

Rajib Ahsan has been made president and Akramul Hasan general secretary of the new committee.

Agitating JCD activists on Wednesday staged protests and blasted cocktails in front of the Nayapaltan office of BNP and Gulshan office of Khaleda over the formation of the new central committee.