At least fifteen students were injured as two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were locked in a clash on Jahangirnagar University campus over non-payment of food bill yesterday.
The leaders and activists from both sides traded several rounds of bullets during the clash while one received bullet injury.
Witnesses said around 50 Chhatra League activists of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall loyal to JU unit Organising Secretary Faisal Hossain Dipu denied paying bills after having lunch at Dhaka Biriani and Chotpoti House adjacent to Zahir Raihan auditorium yesterday around 1:30pm.
Lavlu, the shop owner, brought the matter to the notice of JU unit Chhatra League General Secretary Rajib Ahmed Rasel.
After that Rasel university unit Chhatra League President Mahmudur Rahman Jony sat with Dipu to solve the matter.
During the meeting supporters of Rasel and Dipu swooped on each other with machetes, iron pipes and rods, wooden stick and other native weapons.
University Proctor Prof Muzibur Rahman then visited the spot but failed to calm down feuding Chhatra League men.
Geography Department student Rezaul Karim Rochi, archaeology Department student Asaduzzaman Ashik and International Relationship Department student Jahid Hasan were stabbed with sharp weapons during the clash.
All three injured were loyal to JU unit Chhatra League General Secretary Rasel.
After an hour around 4pm several hundred Chhatra League activists from different dormitories of the university loyal to Rasel launched an attack on Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall.
The Chhatra League men loyal to Dipu from Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall also attacked them with brick chips and stones from the rooftop of the dorm while Rasel’s men fired several round of bullets.
The activists of Mosharraf Hossain Hall also fired 5-6 rounds of bullets.
Geography Department student Nehal received bullet injury to his left leg during the gunshots.
Police brought the situation under control around 5pm.
Savar circle ASP Russel Sheikh told the Dhaka Tribune: “It was a factional clash of university unit Chhatra League. All students were sent back to their dorms and police were deployed on the campus.”
Among the injured condition of Mohitosh Roy Titu was critical and he was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, source said.
JU unit Chhatra League General Secretary Rasel told the Dhaka Tribune: “Chhatra Dal activists of Mosharraf Hossain Hall were creating chaos and demanding extortion from food stall in the name of Chhatra League.”
While contacted for comment, JU unit Chhatra League Organising Secretary Faisal Hossain Dipu was unavailable over his cell phone despite several attempts.
JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam said the situation was under control and steps would be taken against the miscreants according to the recommendation of the disciplinary committee of the university.”
