At least 25 people, including six members of the police, were injured in a factional clash between two groups of Gobindaganj unit Bangladesh Chhatra League on Thursday, following an altercation over recruitment of teachers in Gobindaganj Degree College.
Quoting the locals, police said the altercation began between two groups of Chhatra League, one led by local lawmaker Monowar Hossain Chowdhury and another by Upazila Parishad Chairman Abul Kalam Azad, over the recruitment of seven teachers, including the vice-principal of the college.
At one stage of the altercation, Azad-led Chhatra League activists had beat three activists of the other group around 1pm. Protesting the attack, Monowar-led Chhatra League activists brought out a procession around 7pm, chanting slogans against Azad.
Later, when the procession reached Choturanga intersection of the town, Azad’s men equipped with weapons charged at the procession, resulting in a clash between the two groups. The clash, lasting almost two hours, had spread panic among the locals and caused long tailbacks on the highway.
Sources said upon information, police went to the spot and charged batons to disperse the agitated activists. They also fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.
According to sources, the clash had left several injured including policemen. Among the injured, eight activists including two policemen were admitted to Bogra Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
Inspector Mehedi Hasan of Gobindaganj police station said the police were compelled to charge batons and fire rubber bullets on the clashing men to bring the situation under control.
