Chattogram Medical College: BCL infighting over extortion, syndicate, supremacy

The clash at Chattogram Medical College (CMC) on Saturday was not an isolated incident. It is a continuation of rivalry between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) over establishing supremacy at the institute, said sources.

The two factions -- one loyal to former city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and another to deputy education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel -- locked into clashes on  Friday and Saturday.

Sources at CMC said the rivalry got started to establish full control over illegal activities, like extorting adjacent clinics and diagnostic centres, managing the illegal syndicate that supplies food to Chattogram Medical College (CMCH), and misappropriating the hospital's medicines.

Preferring anonymity, a CMC student said extortion is one of the main sources of illegal income for the student leaders. For example, the leaders can extort money from business establishments, like the 30 private clinics and diagnostic centres adjacent to CMCH.

Another CMC student echoed the same. "BCL, which fully controls the college's central students' union... has formed an illegal syndicate to supply food to the hospital, misappropriate medicine from CMCH stores and wards, and extort clinics, diagnostic centres, ambulance drivers, and some big pharmacies in front of CMCH."

"They don't necessarily come daily or monthly to extort cash," said a mid-level management official of a private clinic. "On many occasions, the student leaders come to us to sponsor their programmes, and we must accept to do so."

Although both factions of BCL denied all this, they accused one another of doing the aforementioned activities.

Contacted, Abhijit Das, a fourth-year CMC student and leader of the BCL faction loyal to the junior minister, said extortion and syndicates are a reality at CMCH.

"A section of students dominate the hostel, campus and hospital in the name BCL. They are behind all sorts of extortion and illegal syndicates," he said.

Asked who they are, he said, "The factions loyal to the former city mayor are behind all this."

"As we resisted the extortionists on campus, they conducted a series of attacks on us, and the last one was on Aqib, who is now fighting for his life in the ICU," he added.

Contacted, Al Amin Islam Shimul, general secretary of BCL's CMC unit,

who is loyal to the former mayor, brushed aside the allegations.

Contacted, Dr Shahadat Hossain, president of BNP's Chattogram city unit, said the illegal activities are behind the current clashes.

"We also get complaints of extortion by BCL activists from owners of clinics and diagnostic centres," he said.

"I would not only blame the students but the political leaders who give them shelter as well," he said. "CMC's academic council should be cautious in this regard."

CMC Principal Prof Shahena Akter could not be contacted for comments.

AQIB GETTING BETTER

Mahadi J Aqib, who was assaulted in the clash, is getting better at CMCH's intensive care unit (ICU), said on-duty doctors.

"His organs have started responding today [yesterday]," one of the doctors said.

Meanwhile, Aqib's father Golam Faruq Majumder blamed dirty politics for his son's condition.

"I want no one's son to face this fate. Now, I'm only praying for his speedy recovery and  waiting to hear 'Baba' from his mouth yet again," Faruq said, standing in front of the ICU yesterday.

Meanwhile, a case was filed with Chawkbazar Police Station in connection with the Saturday night clash at CMC hostel.

Mahmudul Hasan -- a BCL activist at CMC, who is loyal to ex-mayor Nasir -- filed the case against 16 BCL rival activists yesterday, said Ferdous Jahan, officer-in-charge of the police station.

Earlier, police arrested two BCL activists loyal to Nasir, in connection with a case filed with Panchlaish Police Station over attacking Aqib.

BCL activist Taufiqur Rahman filed the case, mentioning names of 16 people, said Sadekur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Panchlaish Police Station.