35 injured as BCL, JCD clash in Dhaka

More than 35 people were injured in back-to-back clashes between activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar area on Tuesday.

"So far, some 35 people have received first aid for injuries from the first clash at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) but none has been admitted yet," said Bacchu Mia, inspector in-charge of DMCH police outpost.

According to witnesses, the JCD members were rallying towards Dhaka University (DU) around 9.30am when some BCL activists attacked them near the Shaheed Minar area, resulting in a chase, a counter-chase and throwing of brick chips between the two groups before they dispersed near the campus.

Aman Ullah Aman, member secretary of DU unit of JCD, said they were on their way to the varsity's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) for holding a pre-scheduled press briefing to give a statement clarifying the comment of JCD general secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel which was perceived as "derogatory".

"As we reached near Shaheed Minar from the emergency gate of DMCH, some BCL members attacked us with locally made sharp arms, hockey sticks and iron rods."

He said some 40 JCD activists, including senior co-president Rashed Iqbal Khan, organisational secretary Abu Mohammad Yahia, and joint-convener of DU unit Ezazul Kabir Jewel, joint general secretary of DU unit Sajib Majumder, and convening member Mansura Alam, sustained injuries.

Two hours later, the two student groups again locked into a clash near the Doyel Chattar area inside the campus, in which some more activists sustained minor injuries. The JCD activists were forced to leave the area around 12pm after they faced stiff resistance from BCL activists.

At one stage, some BCL activists beat up two JCD activists- Minhazul Abedin Nannu and Al-Amin Bablu-- after throwing them into a drain of Shahidullah Hall.

Aman Ullah Aman said religious affairs secretary Tuhin Reza and Masterda Surja Sen Hall BCL leader Syed Shariful Alam Shafu intervened and rescued them from the drain.

Meanwhile, Saddam Hossain, general secretary of DU's BCL unit, described the incident as a clash between members of the two rival student groups and slammed JCD general secretary's "derogatory" remarks on the prime minister.