25 hurt in BCL attack at DU

At least 25 activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) were injured in a violent attack by a group of members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Dhaka University (DU) yesterday.
Following the attack JCD has declared a student-strike for an indefinite period at DU from July 1.
Around 60 BCL men armed with iron rods and sharp weapons swooped on 40 JCD members sitting at Madhur Canteen around midday.
BCL carried out the assault a week after JCD resumed regular organisational activities on DU campus after a break of nearly five months. The attack lasted for nearly five minutes when angry BCL members hurled wooden chairs at JCD activists and even tore off their clothes.
The injured JCD leaders and activists include DU unit convener Abdul Motin, joint conveners Obaidul Haque Nasir, Mofidul Haq Hiru, Mahfuzur Rahman, Moniruzzaman Rigon, Abdul Wahab and central leader Minhaz Ahmed.
Witnesses said, Siddique Najmul Alam, BCL central assistant secretary, Mamun-ur-Rashid, DU unit joint secretary, Rifat Hossain Ziku, unit president of Ziaur Rahman Hall, Sayeed Majumder, unit president of Surjosen Hall, and Jagannath Hall unit leaders Utpal Saha, Joydeb Nandi led the attack.
A group of law enforcers were seen only 30 yards from the spot while an assistant proctor of the university was present in the canteen premises minutes before the incident.
DU Proctor Dr KM Saiful Islam said, “The clash was over in a minute and both groups left the spot before police reached the canteen.”
An injured JCD leader Mahfuzur Rahman said BCL men attacked them without any kind of instigation.
He said, BCL was forcing them for last couple of days to withdraw a case filed against 14 Chhatra League leaders for assaulting leaders of Chhatra Dal at DU on January 18 this year.
The victims were rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where 14 injured JCD men were undergoing treatment till last evening. The rest left the hospital after receiving primary medical attention.
JCD leaders Nasir and Minhaz were admitted to the capital's Islami Bank Central Hospital with head injuries.
The victims also include - - Mainul Islam, Shawkat Hossain, Shapon Kumar Mandol, Khairul Alam Shisir, Rasel Mia, Najmul Sakib, Rafiqul Islam Royal, Rasin, Habibur Rahman Sumon, Sabid Hossain, Zakaria and Shahabuddin Shihab.
BCL General Secretary of DU unit Sajjad Sakib Badsha denied his men's involvement in the incident. “It was JCD's internal conflict and we strongly protest such violence on campus,” Badsha said.
DU Proctor said a one-member probe committee with Assistant Proctor Amzad Hossain has been formed to investigate the incident and has been asked to submit its report as soon as possible.
Speaking at an emergency press conference, held at the organisation's central office in the city, JCD President Sultan Salauddin Tuku said if their three-point demand which include --resignation of the VC and proctor, punishment to the BCL attackers and co-existence at DU are not met within this month, they will observe the strike.
To press home the demands, JCD men will stage demonstration at the educational institutions across the country today, hold rally at Muktangaon in the capital on June 24 and exchange views with teachers and members of active student bodies on June 29.
Some senior BNP leaders visited the injured at DMCH Monday afternoon.
Earlier on Sunday, some BCL activists drove out JCD activists from the canteen telling them not to enter the canteen until they withdrew the case.