Infighting between two rival groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League of Dhaka College unit left at least 15 activists injured, with five of them receiving bullets.
Party activists Jasim, Rony, Chanchal, Zahid and Saiful Islam received bullets in their abdomen. The condition of Saiful, a second year student of political science, is stated to be critical.
Sources said the clash had taken place centring establishment of supremacy on the college campus.
Following the incident, police raided the college dormitories and detained some 20 youths and recovered several sharp weapons, said Iasir Arafat Khan, officer-in-charge of New Market police station.
Police said Chhatra League cadres led by Rinku and his rival Sohel were locked into a clash following information that a new committee of the college unit was in the making.
Campus sources said the fighting was a demonstration of political supremacy in South and Master’s halls in a bid to hold positions on the upcoming committee.
During the one and a half-hour-long clash some 100 cadres on both sides fought each other, exchanging gunshots, exploding bombs, pelting bricks, plus chase and counter-chase.
The law enforcers brought the situation in the morning under control, but soon after their leaving the campus, the feuding groups resumed their fight.
Police further came in on dealing with the situation.
A large number of additional forces had been deployed to the campus and a tense situation was prevailing out there.
Maruf Hossain Sarder, deputy commissioner of police, Ramna division, told the Dhaka Tribune two groups of youth at Dhaka College were locked into a clash and chase and counter-chase took place among them.
“On information, we went to the spot and brought the situation under control,” said the DC.
He added that following the clash, police detained some youth on suspicion and the detainees were taken to the detective branch of Police for interrogation.
Abu Yusuf, assistant commissioner of police at the Media Centre of DMP, said police held the youth for having no identity cards in their possession.
No case was lodged as of filing the report at 7pm yesterday.
Earlier on March 26, BCL infighting at Government Bangla College left over 20 people injured while police detained 53 youth in connection with the incident.