BCL factions clash
A student looks around before leaving the room of his dormitory ransacked by Bangladesh Chhatra League men during a factional clash at Sir Salimullah Medical College in the city yesterday. Inset, another student departing from the women's hostel.
Rival factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League locked in fierce clashes at Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC) and Dhaka Dental College in the capital compelling the authorities to shut SSMC indefinitely.
The clashes over establishing supremacy on the institutions left at least 20 BCL activists injured -- 10 each in SSMC in Old Dhaka and Dental College at Mirpur -- as the feuding groups attacked each others with iron rods and sticks.
SSMC Principal Prof MA Azhar said they have asked students to vacate the three dormitories by the evening. He, however, said students who have examinations will be allowed to stay as exams will be held as per schedule.
Witnesses and police say the clashes ensued as up to 30 members of Dr Javed faction attacked Main Hostel at around 1:00am and ransacked at least 35 rooms. As the news spread, rival Dr Ataul Karim faction reiterated by vandalising around 20 rooms at Alauddin Hostel.
At one stage, both the factions equipped with rods and sticks attacked each other in front of the Main Hostel's gate leaving 10 injured.
At around 3:00am Kotwali police raided the hostels and college premises and detained 53 BCL activists. However, they were all released around noon after a request from the principal, said Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Police Station Salahuddin Khan.
Dr Javed is now a central committee leader of BCL, students' associate body of ruling Awami League. Dr Ataul was a leader of BCL SSMC unit. Both passed from the college several years ago and also completed their internship.
As there is no committee in the SSMC unit for the last seven years, Dr Javed and Dr Ataul had long-standing rivalry over control of the hostels, tender of the college and hospital and Leo and Sandhani clubs, students say.
In Dhaka Dental College, supporters of BCL college unit president Sayeed Masud Johnny and secretary Shafiul Haq Shafi clashed on the campus.
Around 10 supporters from both factions suffered injuries during the clash when the feuding group members attacked each others with iron rods and sticks.
Witnesses say some 20 supports of Shafiul faction swooped on as many supporters of Sayeed group in front of the office of the college principal around 9:30am leading to the clash.
OC of Kafrul police Abdul Latif said police dispersed the BCL activists and took control of the campus soon after the clash. He added police have been deployed on the campus to ward off further clashes.
Students say there was a stained relation between the president and secretary groups over formation of a new BCL committee of the college unit.
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