18 Chhatra Odhikar members injured

At least 18 Chhatra Odhikar Parishad leaders and activists in Bogura were injured yesterday in an attack on their procession, allegedly carried out by members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).

Leaders of Bogura BCL, however, denied attacking the procession.

"As part of the central programme of Gono Odhikar Parishad, we were gathering at Bogura Satmatha area to protest the recent hike in prices of oil, gas, electricity and daily necessities," Bogura Chhatra Odhikar Parishad President Mizanur Rahman Palash told this correspondent.

"When we started our programme around 11:00am, police stopped us saying that we had no permission to carry out the event. But yesterday we informed the DC and SP about today's human chain," he said.

"We ended the programme shortly afterwards. After the programme, when we were going towards Bogura Yakubia School in a procession, BCL men attacked us from behind," he added.

"Twenty minutes later, when we went in front of the Bogura PTI Training Centre, Bogura BCL President Sajib Saha led another attack on us," said Mizan.

"Four to five of our men were taken to an under-construction building at Rahman Nagar area and beaten," Mizan continued.

Among the 18 injured, Sherpur upazila Chhatra Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rakibul Hasan Rocky was seriously injured when BCL men hit him on the head with sticks, Mizan added.

Bogura District BL President Sajib Saha denied the allegation.

"Chhatra League did not attack Chhatra Odhikar Parishad's procession. We heard that they had a programme in Satmatha area today. The police stopped them because they did not have permission," said Sajib.

"We heard that students of some institutions in Bogura resisted them. The students had an altercation with them," he added.

When asked about stopping Chhatra Odhikar's human chain, Bogura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Noor-E-Alam Siddiqui told The Daily Star, "Chhatra Odhikar Parishad applied for today's programme but did not get the permission. That is why my officers stopped them."

When asked about the BCL attack, the OC said, "We don't know anything about the BCL attack yet. No complaint has been received in this regard."