Over 56 people were injured, six of them with bullet injuries in a fierce clashes between two rival groups of pro-ruling party student body Bangladesh Chhatra League at Beanibazar area in Sylhet on Tuesday. Local sources said, the four hour-long chase and counter chase and counter chase started at around 11: AM in presence of Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at the Beanibazar Government College campus. The rival BCL caders were engaged in the fierce clashe forcing police to fire tear gas and blank fire.
But as the unruly BCL activists were continuing their fighting, police at one stage fired rubber bullet leaving at least 60 people injured including 6 BCL activists.
According to Rudru Mizan, a eyewitness said,’’ Education Minister Nurul Islam was inside Biyanibazar Government College to attend the orientation classes of HSC and Degree students.”
During the speech of the minister, two rival groups started engaging in clash and Nurul warned the trouble makers BCL activists to take stern action.
After ending the speech of the minister, BCL, pro-opposition Jatiyatabdi Chattra Dal, Talimize Islamiya, Chattra Jomiyot brought out anti-violence rally in the college campus.
Later another rival group also brought out counter rally and tried to march toward Dokkin Bazar but police tried to obstruct them. Later BCL activists ignoring police barricade marched forward and engaged in clash with another BCL group. They also threw brickbats on police. Later police charged batons, lobbed tear shell and fired rubber bullets to disperse BCL activists.
During the clashes, BCL activists Kolim, Raihan, Nazmul, Kamrul, Diptu and Alim of Jamal group and Dilu, Parvez and Tareq of Proper group were injured.
Police detained seven BCL activists from the spot in this connection.
Talking to the reporter, Biyanibazar Police Station Officer in Charge Md Delwar Hossain said,’’ The clashes erupted between the two rival groups of BCL.” He however, claimed that the situation was not under control.
Meanwhile in Rajshahi four persons including two photojournalists and a policeman were injured when activists of Shibir hurled crude bombs towards police at RDA market area of the city on Tuesday night.
According to Boalia thana sources, this night around 7-30 pm, Shibir activists took out a whirlwind procession at RDA market area of the city to drum up their support for tomorrow’s country wide hartal.
-With The Independent input
