Workers clash with students

Transport workers with sticks and brick chips attack Dhaka Polytechnic Institute in the capital's Tejgaon Industrial Area last night during a fierce clash with its students. Inset, a damaged truck, which was set on fire during the melee that left at least 40 people injured. Photo: Amran Hossain

A clash between students of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and transport workers left 40 people injured, two vehicles torched and around 28 others vandalised at Sat Rasta intersection at Tejgaon last night.
The students claim that the clash ensued after transport workers tried to mug four students while transport workers claimed that it was the students doing the mugging, and the victim was a trucker.
Traffic movement was halt on the road in front of the institute for around three hours since 10:00pm causing huge tailbacks in the surrounding areas including Malibagh, Farmgate and Mohakhali intersections.
Students told reporters that transport workers mugged four students around 9:30pm at Sat Rasta Truck Stand. Hearing the news, around 100 students rushed to the spot and tried to find out the muggers.
At one stage, the students and workers locked into a scuffle and a full on clash broke around 11:00pm, witnesses said.
They said transport workers across the street from the Polytechnic Institute hurled brickbats at the students and the students also retaliated.
The workers and students damaged windows of the institute and other buildings there. They then torched two vehicles and vandalised 28 others, according to the witnesses.
Transport workers said students of the institute often snatched mobile phones and money from truckers who parked near Sat Rasta intersection. Students claimed that they were the ones who often fell victim to mugging in that area.
Among the 40 injured eight were students. Three injured workers had to be rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and doctors there said one of them was in critical condition.
Fire brigade source said three fire engines from Tejgaon were dispatched to put out the burning vehicles around 11:00pm.
While filing this report at 1:30am today, the police were yet to bring the situation under control. They were, however, raiding dormitories of the institute.
Officer-in-Charge Mahbubur Rahman of Tejgaon Industrial Police Station told The Daily Star that they were trying to calm the situation.
He, around 1:30 this morning, said they were yet to make any arrests.
The workers claimed that students dragged some of their fellow workers into their dorms.