8 injured in 'Jubo League-BCL' clash at Suhrawardy Udyan

At least eight people were injured in a clash between Jubo League and Chhatra League activists during a rally at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan this afternoon.

Among the injured are seven BCL men and a cop.

Speaking to The Daily Star, injured police constable Kabir Hossain, 25, said the two groups clashed at southern part of Suhrawardy Udyan following an altercation over entering the rally venue.

Both the groups hurled brickbats at each other, leaving several people injured, said Kabir.

He said he took first aid at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being hit by a brickbat.

Emon, a BCL activist of Shahid Serjeant Zahurul Huq Hall at Dhaka University, told The Daily Star that he and another BCL man were injured during the clash between Jubo League men and some BCL activists of the university's Surja Sen Hall around 2:00pm.   

DU BCL leaders claimed that Jubo League men from two factions entered Suhrawardy Udyan around noon and started throwing brickbats at each other near the stage of the rally. Several BCL leaders and activists standing next to the Jubo League men were injured.

DU Zahurul Huq Hall BCL President Kamal Uddin said, "After entering the Suhrawardy Udyan, I saw that Jubo League factions were throwing brickbats. At one stage, we were also hit by brickbats."

Inspector Bachchu Miah, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp, said seven injured were given first aid at the hospital.

Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil said they were not aware of any clash. "We are looking into the matter."   

Jubo League, the youth wing of the ruling Awami League, organised the rally to celebrate its golden jubilee.