8 hurt in BCL infighting in Ctg

At least eight people were injured in a clash between two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) over establishing supremacy at Government Hazi Mohammad Mohsin College in Chittagong on Saturday.

City mayor AJM Nasir Uddin backs one group while former city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury another.

During the clash, students of various educational institutions near the college were seen to run for shelters, according to witnesses.

The movement of vehicles remained halted during the clash. The shopkeepers shut down their shops near the college. Hazi Mohammad Mohsin High School, Chittagong High School and Kazem Ali School & College locate near the college.

The situation came under control at 3:00pm, said locals.

Officer-in-charge of Chawk Bazar police station Nurul Huda said incidents of chase and counter chase took place between the two groups of BCL over establishing supremacy in the college. Police brought the situation under control.

BCL men and witnesses said two groups of Chhatra League locked into an altercation on the college campus at 12:00pm. A group backed by city mayor AJM Nasir Uddin brought out a procession was heading to Chawk Bazar area.

The followers of former city mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury stopped them when they attempted to enter the college campus.

Then the clash between the two groups broke out. Police rushed to the spot and tackled the situation.

Later, the followers of Mohiuddin took position at Deb Pahar area of Chawk Bazar while the followers of Nasir took position at Gani Bakery area.

The clash broke out when the followers of Mohiuddin Chowdhury tried to head towards Gani Bakery area. Then two groups threw stones to each other. At least eight people were injured in it.

Some members of BCL, the student front of ruling AL were seen holding sharp weapons.

The injured belonged to Mohiduddin group are: Maymun Uddin, 4th year student of Mathematics, Anwar Palash, 3rd year of Degree (pass), Mohammad Zishan, 2nd year of Economics, Hanif Suman, 1st year of Economics department and Siddque Sohan, 1st year of English. They have taken treatment from a government hospital at Mehedibagh area.

Other injured belonging to Nasir group, are: Saiful Islam, Akmam Bappi and Mohammad Hasan. They were admitted to the casualty unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Mohiuddin's follower Maymun Uddin said, "The followers of Nasir tried to establish unilateral supremacy in the college. They along with the outsiders carried out a planned attack on us."

Enam Hossain Chowdhury, follower of Nasir, denied the allegation. He alleged the followers of Mohiuddin carried out attacks on them on the college campus at Gani Bakery area. He also said a case will be filed.