10 hurt in clash over madrasa

At least 10 people, including three policemen, were injured in a clash between two rival groups over formation of an internal committee at Terabazar Jamia Siddiquia Madrasa in the town yesterday.

The clash occurred on the madrasa premises and adjoining areas in Munshi Bazar area yesterday afternoon.

Police intervened and fired 62 rubber bullets and lobbed five teargas canisters to bring the situation under control.

Earlier, the two rival groups resorted to chase and counter-chase and throwing brickbats at each other.

District Awami League vice-president Md Minhaz Uddin was also assaulted during the clash.

The injured included constable Samapta Nokrek, 27, Hasan, 25, of Mirganj area and Monir, 25, of Gazir Khamar area. They have been admitted to Sherpur Sadar Hospital, while the other injured were given the first aid.

The police, witnesses and madrasa authorities said a meeting of the madrasa managing committee was convened yesterday. District AL advisory committee member Md Abdul Wadud and district BNP convening committee former joint convener Md Saiful Islam have been working as the president and general secretary of the current managing committee respectively.

A group has been opposing Saiful Islam's position as the general secretary of the managing committee. Tension has been prevailing over the issue for long.

District AL vice-president Minhazuddin and his supporters Fakhrul Majid, Khandker Nazrul Islam and Anwarul Hasan and district Chhatra League president Shoeb Ahmed Shakil and a huge number of students and people from the eastern side of the district took position on the madrasa premises yesterday.

When the news spread, District Council Chairman Md Humayun Kabir, Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Md Sanuar Hossain, Vice-Chairman Md Bayezid Hasan and students and people from the western side of the district also came to the madrasa premises.

Eventually, tension mounted on the madrasa premises and its adjoining areas and both sides locked in a clash at one stage.

District AL vice-president Minhazuddin alleged that some top office bearers of the present managing committee have grabbed the posts for long and been patronising the BNP and Jamaat supporters. He further alleged that Jamaat-Shibir elements have been conducting anti-government activities from the madrasa premises.

District Council Chairman Humayun Kabir's younger brother Yakub Ali assaulted Minhazuddin yesterday on the madrasa premises for his protest, he claimed.

Humayun denied the allegation and said his younger brother did not assault anyone.

Madrasa committee's incumbent president Abdul Wadud said the madrasa has become a political institution, adding that there is no scope for running political activities at the madrasa. He informed that yesterday's meeting was suspended.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Md Aminul Islam said the situation is under control as extra police force was deployed in and around the madrasa.