Gunbattle between activists of the Islami Chhatra Shibir and Bangladesh Chhatra League left atleast three injured in Rajshahi university on Sunday.
The armed clash between the student affiliates of Jamaat-e-Islami and the ruling Awami League erupted around 12pm midday near the central library and the Shahidullah Cultural auditorium in the university premises.
‘New Age’ daily’s campus correspondent Nazim Mridha was beaten up during the clash by some Chhatra League supporters.
Two Shibir’s campus leaders Abu Sufian of Motihar Hall and Science Unit president Al Imran were hospitalised at Rajshahi Medical College & Hospital with bullet wounds after the clash.
Another student, Firoz Ahmed of Languages faculty , was also hospitalised with bullet injuries .
Eye-witnesses say 20-25 Shibir activists were crossing the Central Library zone around 12 pm when Chhatra Leaguers waiting in a tent there challenged them.
Chhatra Leaguers allege the Shibir activists opened fire and tried to run away .
Eye-witnesses say the Chhatra Leaguers fired back ‘ a few rounds’ during the shootout.
After a while, a police contingent led by OC(Special Branch) Afzal Hossain reached the Shahidullah Cultural Auditorium .
At that time, more firing was reported and three students stuck in the auditorium – Abu Sufian, Al Imran and Firoz Ahmed – were injured.
“We are still not sure who opened fire and on whom ,” said Matihar Police Station OC Abdus Sobhan.
But he admitted police had to fire in the air to control the situation.
Some Chhatra Leaguers snatched away the camera of ‘New Age’ daily’s campus correspondent Nazim Mridha and beat him up.
“When students were running away after the firing , I tried taking some pictures but came under attack by some Chhatra Leaguers. But later their seniors intervened and my camera was returned.”
“Chhatra Leaguers are claiming that the Shibir supporters started the firing to create tension in the campus. They say that when they chased away the Shibir activists, the clash escalated,” said Rajshahi University proctor Tariqul Hassan Milon.
Milon told bdnews24.com that he carried the injured student Firoz Ahmed in his own car to the university’s medical facility from where he was later taken to the Rajshahi Medical College.
Chhatra League president Mizanur Rahman Rana told bdnews24.com that their supporters were trying to form a human chain in protest against the attack on their general secretary Touhid Al Tuhin .
“That is when the Shibir supporters crossing the area passed offensive remarks and when challenged started firing,” Rana alleged.
But Shibir’s information secretary Ziauddin Babloo claims that their supporters were victims of an unprovoked attack by Chatra Leaguers when they were heading for classes.
Two of our leaders have sustained bullet injuries after the Chatra Leaguers fired, he claimed.
“Nobody regardless of who they are will not be spared if they resort to gangsterism in the campus,” warned Proctor Tariqul Hassan Milon.
He claimed the situation in the campus was now normal and additional police deployments have been made. – bdnews24.com
