At least 30 student activists have been injured in clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Pabna’s Ishwardi. The clashes between the student fronts of Awami League and BNP that started from Railgate area on Saturday soon spread to other parts of the town.Ishwardi Police Station OC Biman Kumar Das said the ‘battle’ began when a pro-shutdown procession attacked a programme to commemorate BCL’s founding day. Shots were fired and crude bombs were exploded during the clashes. A total 17 injured have been admitted to Upazila Health Complex.
Ishwardi GRP Station OC Enamul Haque said several businesses were vandalised including a private bank. The train ‘Mohanonda Express’ was also attacked at Ishwardi Railway Station, where it was waiting to leave for Khulna.
Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex Medical Officer Dr Fairuza Parvin Tania told bdnews24.com that most of the activists were admitted there with bullet wounds. Of them two have been sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
BNP and Awami League have held each other responsible for the clashes.
Ishwardi Upazila Chairman and Awami League leader Nuruzzaman Biswas claimed Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir men fired at the BCl’s founding day programme injuring scores of activists.
Meanwhile, Zakaria Pintu, BNP General Secretary of Ishwardi municipality alleged that the opposition leaders and activists were peacefully marching when Chhatra League and Juba League leaders attacked them. – bdnews24.com
