Comilla University shut as BCL infighting leaves 1 dead

Comilla University was announced shut today after infighting at campus which left an activist of ruling party’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League killed.

The university was closed indefinitely in an emergency meeting of the authorities, chaired by Chancellor Md Ali Ashraf in the chair, a local correspondent reports.

Male students have been asked to vacate by 11:00am. Female students have been asked to leave campus premises by 2:00pm. A notice has been hung at campus in this regard.

Witnesses said the infighting ensued around last midnight at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dormitory on the first dawn of August – the month of mourning.

Khaled Saifullah, a student of marketing department of the university and a hall unit leader of BCL, sustained injuries during the incident. He later succumbed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Mehedi Hassan, an assistant professor of the department, confirmed the casualty.

Factions of Chhatra League are trading blames on each other for the incident. The campus’ BCL President Nazmul Hassan blamed an ousted leader Ilias Hossain for the clash.

On the contrary, Ilias Hossain alleged that activists of Bangabandhu hall accompanied outsiders and swooped on their party. However, he could not answer what he was doing there in the first place.

The university’s proctorial body and police brought the situation under control later on. Proctor Mohammad Ainul Haque confirmed shooting during the clash and the casualty.

Comilla district police’s additional Superintendent Abdullah Al Mamun echoed similar and said one student was killed during the clash. “Gunshots were fired during the fight.”

Sources said, tension has been prevailing within Chhatra League at campus on the verge of formation of a new campus committee.