30 hurt in BCL-Shibir clash at CU

Two activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir hide their faces as journalists take pictures at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. They were injured in a clash with BCL activists at Chittagong University on Thursday night.Photo: STAR

At least 30 activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) were injured in a series of clashes between them on Chittagong University (CU) campus Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the CU authorities at a meeting yesterday suspended all classes and examinations of the university until May 21 to maintain peaceful atmosphere on the campus.
Sources said the clash erupted at Shaheed Abdur Rab Hall at about 10:30pm over using its mosque by ICS men for political purpose. The clash later spread to Shah Amanat and Shah Jalal halls leaving the activists of both the groups injured.
Both the student groups used iron rods, hockey sticks, batons and machetes during the clashes and vandalised rooms of their rival parties. Unruly students also damaged the private car of CU Vice Chancellor Prof Abu Yusuf and a motorcycle.
Additional police force from Chittagong city, VC Prof Yusuf and university proctorial body members rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control around 1:30am.
The injured were sent to CU Medical Centre and 16 of them later shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
Sixteen injured activists were identified as Bachchu, Anis, Zahid, Shanto, Maruf, Shihab, Manzur, Abir, Sujan, Jitu, Saiful, Sajib, Sudip, Rajib, Mansurul Alam and Dipu.
Police raided Abdur Rab Hall and recovered some sticks and lethal weapons after the clash. Police also picked up ICS activist Masud Alam from the spot.
CU Assistant Proctor Chandan Kumar Poddar told The Daily Star that they rushed to the hall on the night and tried to calm both the groups.
Meanwhile, the university authorities formed two separate committees to investigate Thursday's incident and to arrange a dialogue among the leaders of student organisations.
Hathazari thana Officer-in-Charge Mohammed Ismail said four platoons of police force have been deployed on the campus to avert any untoward incident.
CU BCL General Secretary Ershad Hossain said the Shibir men attacked on them in an organised way and it was a pre-planned attack to hamper the congenial academic atmosphere of the institution.
“At least 12 BCL activists were injured in the attack and condition of Maruf is critical,” Ershad said.
However, CU ICS President Zakir Hossain claimed that the BCL men attacked on ICS activists without any provocation and condition of Suhrawardy Hall President Mansurul Alam Mazumder is critical.