7 hurt on CU campus as BCL activists clash with cops

At least seven were injured including police during a clash between the ruling party’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League and police at Chittagong University campus on Sunday morning.
No shuttle train and Chittagong city-campus bound bus reached CU, neither any classes and exams were held during a BCL initiated strike launched since Sunday, said registrar KM Nur Ahmed.
CU medical centre chief medical officer Abu Taiyab said that a total of seven injured received treatment following the clash. They were — police constable Farid, CU law department student Sadi Murshed, communication and journalism student Mokhles, anthropology department Ramzan alongside two other BCL leaders and one pedestrian.
BCL leaders and activists demanded resignation of proctor Ali Asgar Chowdhury, withdrawal of the officer-in-charge of Hathazari Police Station Belal Mohammad Jahangir for allegedly framing a false arms case against six BCL leaders of the CU unit.
The clash began around 11:45am when the police tried to open the lock the BCL leaders had put on the main gate of the university.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police additional superintendent (north) Masiuddoula Reza said that police charged batons, sprayed water and fired tear gas shells to disperse the agitating students.
He said that five police personnel were also injured as the protesters hurled brick chips targeting the police.
Two students were detained from the spot, CU unit of BCL former vice-president Rezaul Haque Rubel said, adding that police swooped on them without any provocation.
The situation on the campus deteriorated since Sunday morning and the shuttle train service remained halted till Sunday evening.
BCL senior leader seeking anonymity said that they demanded authorities concerned to withdraw all political cases filed against their leaders between 2015 and 2018 and the release of the six BCL leaders who were arrested a few days back in the falsely framed arms case.
Bangladesh Railway East zone manager Borhan Uddin said that the protestors kidnapped the loco master from Sholoshohor rail station and released him after few hours. Initially, they also cut the hosepipe off the CU shuttle train.
Hathazari Police Station officer in charge Belal Uddin said that a case was filed against BCL leaders due to frequent clashes, which led to the strike. However, they again got involved in a clash with the police on Sunday morning. One constable was injured during the clash.
He said that now the situation was under control. Additional police force was deployed in CU campus.
CU proctor Md Ali Asgar Chowdhury said that a faction of BCL called the strike to fulfil their ‘stupid demand’.
They damaged university properties worth about Tk 5 lakh during the clash on two consecutive days — Saturday and Sunday. They vandalised teachers’ bus, guard room of CU Teachers’ Club, he said.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net