At least 30 people, including four police personnel, were injured in a fierce clash between two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Chittagong University yesterday morning.
Police and witness said an altercation had ensued between supporters of Sixty Nine Group led by CU unit President Alamgir Tipu and Bijoy Group led by university unit BCL General Secretary HM Fazly Rabbi Sujon over fixing spot to stand to greet admission seekers around 10am.
At one stage of the altercation, both the groups locked into a clash. During the clash, chase and counter-chase took place between the rivals.
Hearing the news of clash, other supporters of both groups came out from Shahjalal dormitory and Shah Amanat hall and locked into clashes equipped with firearms and sharps weapons in front of Shahjalal dormitory, creating panic among guardians and aspirant students.
Being informed, police rushed to the spot and fired more than 30 rounds of tear canisters and blank shots to disperse the clashing groups, said Officer-in-Charge of Hathazari police station Md Salauddin Chowdhury.
After arrival of police, two groups took position at Shahjalal and Shah Amanat dormitories. Then, police entered into the halls and charge batons on clashing groups and brought the situation under control.
At least 30 people were injured in the clash. Of the injured, Additional Superintendent of Police (sadar) Md Shahidullah, Hathazari Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Ismail, Constables Enamul Haque, and Nurul Alam were received primary treatment at university medical centre, said OC Salauddin.
Assistant Proctor of the university Helal Uddin Ahmed said clash had ensued over a trivial matter, creating tension among aspirants and guardians.
A panic day for admission seekers
The written test for G and I units were held yesterday and panic gripped the aspirants who came to the campus to appear in the admission tests. Shathi Akhtar, an aspirant who appeared at I-unit examination, said she was frightened during the chase and counter chase between the BCL men.
During the melee many guardians and aspirants were reportedly seen to left campus to avert possible causality, said campus sources.
Alamgir Tipu loyal to Chittagong City Corporation mayor also Chittagong city Awami League’s General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin while Sujon is blessed by city AL’s President AMB Mohiuddin Chowdhury, said campus sources.