20 injured as IU students clash with locals in Kushtia

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between students of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia and local residents following an altercation on Thursday night.

The identities of all the injured could not be known immediately but some of them have been admitted to IU Central Hospital, said Rofiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Shailakupa police station.

IU students, however, claimed that 19 of the 20 injured were their peers, including Tanvir Ahmad of the folklore studies department, and Rezwan Siddiqi Kabbo of the law faculty. An outsider, named Suruj Ali, was also injured.

In fact, around 10 pm, a heated argument broke out between some IU students and the staff of a local bus near Sheikhpara Bazar, with the former accusing the latter of misbehaving with their peers that evening.

The altercation took an ugly turn when the bus staff and some locals attacked the students with sticks and bricks, leaving 19 of them injured, according to eye-witnesses.

Meanwhile, a team from IU proctorial body, including assistant proctor Amjad Hossain, tried to pacify the agitated students. IU proctor Professor M Jahangir Hossain said, “We are trying to resolve the issue”.