Palestine solidarity rally: Chhatra league fractional clash leaves 13 wounded

In an incident expressing solidarity with Palestine, a clash broke out between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling party, in front of the principal‍‍`s office at Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College under Chakbazar Police Station, Chattagram. Both sides are reportedly preparing for legal action regarding the incident.

At around 12 p.m. on Monday (May 6th), at least 13 people from both sides were injured in the clash in Chattagram.

Both sides claim that in this incident, 10 leaders of Mohsin College BCL and 3 activists of Chakbazar Thana BCL were injured. Among them, leaders of Mohsin College BCL include Kazi Naim, Mafizur Rahman (BSS final), Arman Hossain (BBS third year), Mohammad Takib (BBS fourth year), Arbin Arman (second year), Saidul (BSS third year), Nafis (BBS second year), Shihab (BSS second year), Rimon, and Antar (HSC second year). On the other hand, Chakbazar Police Station BCL president Jahedul Islam, along with Imran Khan Emon and Ashikul Islam Robin, were also injured.

Describing the incident, Kazi Naim, the leader of Mohsin College BCL, said, "There was a program announced by Chhatra League on the issue of Palestine. We hoisted the national flag at the college in the light of that program. Then we took out a procession from the college and returned to stand in front of the college gate. Immediately, the locals led by Jahedul Islam, president of Chakbazar Police Station BCL, attacked us. As a result, 10 of us were injured. Later, when the police arrived, they fled. We will file a case regarding this incident."

To know the cause of the attack, this leader of Chhatra League said, "I don‍‍`t understand why they are attacking. But a few days ago, a boy from Chakbazar Police Station BCL came to the college and consumed drugs. Later, we banned him. I heard that the police took him away. It is assumed that they attacked us today focusing on that issue."

On the other hand, Jahidul Islam, president of Chakbazar Police Station BCL, said, "Today we were going to the CRB for the Chhatra League announced program on Palestine. We were hiring a tempo to go to the CRB. We hired two tempos, our workers were sitting in those two.

Later, when we hired another tempo, our boys got on that. At this time, the boys from Mohsin College also came to hire a tempo from the side of the college field. We told them that we had hired this tempo. You hire another one. But they insisted that they would take this tempo. At this time, our boys were attacked by the leaders of Mohsin College like Naim and Mizan. Two of our workers were seriously injured. They are currently admitted to Chittagong Medical College. I myself have been injured too. We will file a case regarding this incident."

Sarwar, the in-charge of Chittagong College Police outpost, said, "We have not seen any such incident of vandalism. Some minor scuffles have taken place among them. Hearing the news, we went to the spot and separated both sides, and they left. Everything is normal now. So far, no one has lodged any complaints about the incident."