BCL factions clash in 2 dists

On the occasion of Bangladesh Chhatra League's 64th founding anniversary the ruling Awami League-backed student organisation brings out a celebratory procession in the capital yesterday, causing a traffic jam on a major thoroughfare of the city near Ramna Park. Photo: Palash Khan

Around 50 people were injured yesterday as two rival factions of BCL clashed over a stolen mobile phone at the 64th founding anniversary programme of the pro-Awami League student body in Charghat of Rajshahi district.
Golam Kibria, organising secretary of the district unit BCL led one faction while upazila BCL president Ekramul Haque the other.
Police said the clash started around noon when a BCL activist accused another activist of his rival faction of stealing his mobile phone during the celebration procession.
The altercation soon turned into chase and counter chase and the factions started to hurl brickbats at their rivals. At one stage they swooped on each other with rods.
The BCL activists then vandalised a bus. Many passengers were injured by the shards of broken glass.
Around 25 people including the bus driver were admitted to Charghat Health Complex for first aid, said hospital sources.
The activists also vandalised several shops and barricaded the Rajshahi-Charghat road for three hours. They also set tyres on fire in front of Sardaha Degree College.
Hasanuzzaman, a passenger of the vandalised bus, said he saw many passengers including women and children bleeding profusely and running for safety.
PIROJOUR
At least 20 people including lawmen and journalists were injured during a clash between police and a faction of BCL in Pirojpur town yesterday.
The clash started around noon when police intercepted a procession brought out by one of the BCL factions on the occasion of 64th founding anniversary of the student wing.
Witnesses said BCL district unit president Faisal Mahbub Shuvo and its vice-president Masud Ahmed Rana had announced separate programmes marking the day.
Shuvo faction brought out a celebration procession from Mukul Fouz office while Rana faction from the organisation's district office.
To avoid collision between the rival factions, police barred Shuvo group near Sadhana Bridge in the town. The activists held a meeting there.
When police obstructed the procession of Rana faction in front of the Central Jame Mosque around 11:45am, the agitated activists started hurling brickbats at police.
Police then retaliated with batons and brought the situation under control around 12:30pm. The faction then held a meeting at Swadhinata Mancha.
Fashiul Alam Bacchu, a correspondent of Channel I, and Firoz Ahmed, a correspondent of Desh TV, were injured allegedly in police beating.
Sub-inspector Tapas Kumar, also the acting officer-in-charge of Pirojpur Sadar Police Station, said eight policemen including Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Akramul Hossain, Habildar Matiur Rahman, Nayek Ansar Ali, constables Abul Kalam, Anisur Rahman, Abul Bashar, and Md Faruk and female constable Zi Bo were injured by brickbats and had to be admitted to hospital.
Rana alleged that police attacked their peaceful procession without any provocation and injured at least 12 of his activists.
ASP Akramul Hossain said special police patrol was deployed in the town to maintain law and order.