Eight injured as BCL factions clash at JU

Two groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) clashed at Jahangirnagar University (JU) yesterday, leaving at least eight of the activists injured, among them three were severely injured. At least six rounds of bullets were fired during the clash.

The clash started following an assault on former JU unit BCL general secretary Razib Ahmed Rasel by the incumbent secretary, SM Abu Sufian Chancal, at around 5 pm on campus.

The injured were given first aid at university medical centre.

JU (acting) Proctor ASM Firoz Ul Hasan suffered minor wounds when he tried to control the situation.

Razib alleged that he was in a corner of the central field with his wife when Chanchal came over and tried to force him out of the campus. Razib's wife was filming the altercation, and at one point Chancal attacked Razib.

Once news of the assault got around, tension grew among BCL activists. Later, followers of each leader from different halls gathered at Bottala. There was a clash among the two groups, armed with sharp weapons, sticks, and firearms.

Razib said, “Chanchal assaulted me and beat up my driver without any reason. I just came to visit the campus with my wife.”

He said that his wife was also assaulted.

Internal sources of JU unit BCL said, “For a long time, a conflict had been brewing between them over establishing supremacy on the campus, even though Chanchal had once been loyal to Razib.”

Earlier in December 2018, Razib assaulted Chanchal on the campus.

Contacted, Chanchal said, “Razib had assaulted me earlier, and he always tried to create pressure on me regarding BCL activities. When I saw him on campus, I asked him to leave. His wife was trying to film the altercation. Later, Saddam, join secretary of JU unit BCL, attacked my group at the hall.”

JU (acting) Proctor ASM Firoz said, “The situation is now under control. We will deploy law enforcers on the campus.”

This correspondent could not reach BCL central president Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon for his comment.