At least twelve activists of two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were injured in a clash over the takeover of a room in Chittagong University's Alaol Hall.
The incident took place at 12pm on Monday.
The proctorial body and police arrived and took control of the situation at around 1:30am. One of the injured was transferred to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.
According to campus sources, the clash broke out between two groups- “Brothers” and “Moku”- which are sub-factions of CU unit BCL's “Bijoy” group.
The activists of Nazrul and Elias of Chhatra League's “Bijoy” group are based in the shuttle train compartment of the university. On campus, the group is also known as the supporters of Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel.
While the leaders and activists of the “Brothers” group were on their way to the university's central Shaheed Minar, the activists of “Moku” group tried to block them, triggering the violence.
Delwar Hossain, a leader of a faction of the Bijoy group said: “They had taken over our rooms. When we tried to talk about it, the situation turned violent.”
“They were trying to evict some of our activists from Alaol Hall for several days now and started chasing us today when we were going to the hall,” Hossain said.
Several leaders and activists from the “Brothers” group claimed they were attacked while carrying wreaths to the Shaheed Minar.
Although the groups were engaged in the clash for nearly two hours no one from the university administration was reportedly present there.
Dr Shahidul Islam, acting proctor of the university, said the proctorial body and police went there and controlled the situation upon receiving information. “We will look into the matter, if a written complaint is filed,” he said.
When asked, Shubashis Chowdhury, the doctor on duty at the university's medical centre, said that 12 persons were treated there. “One of them was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) because of severe injuries.”
