Duet closed after BCL clash

The authorities closed the Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology in Gazipur for an indefinite period following factional clashes by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists that left at least 12 injured.

The Duet administration asked the male students to vacate the dormitories instantly while female students by 8:00am tomorrow, reports our Gazipur correspondent.

All academic activities including examinations have been declared suspended to avert any further clashes, said Prof Md Kamruzzaman, director of Duet students’ welfare. The administrative activities will go on as usual, he added.

Students and witnesses said two factions -- one led by BCL’s Duet unit President Nasir Uddin and the other by General Secretary Rezaur Rahman Ratul – got into the clashes over occupying a seat at a residential hall and establishing supremacy on the campus earlier in the afternoon.

Supporters of Nasir allegedly drove out Ratul’s man Ruhul Amin, also a third-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), from Qudrat-e-Khuda Hall. 

Later, supporters of Ratul protested the incident and got into the clashes that left at least 12 wounded.

Critically injured, Chanchal Kumar of civil engineering and Masud Rana of EEE were shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from Gazipur’s Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital.  

Injured Debojit Chandra Akash, Rakib Hossain Lincoln, Jewel Biswas, Shafiqur Rahman and Solaiman of civil engineering and Giasuddin of EEE have been admitted to the university medical centre while others have been given primary treatment.

Additional law enforcers however have been deployed on the campus, the students’ welfare director said.

Contacted, BCL Duet unit president Nasir said Ruhul Amin was driven out due to his alleged connection with Jamaat-e-Islami-backed student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.

On the contrary, General Secretary Rezaur Rahman Ratul brushed aside the allegation terming it as politically motivated.