Atmosphere at CU is fraught with danger but no end in sight
AT least 20 persons were injured in a clash between the two rival groups of Bangladesh Chhatra League Chattogram University unit on Thursday over establishing supremacy at a residential hall. The entire area turned into a battle-field during the clash. News media reported that — “Bijoy”, a BCL faction allegedly comprised of followers of Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, and “Concord”, a faction allegedly comprised of followers of Chattogram City Corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, were locked in a clash in the campus earlier on Wednesday, leaving five persons injured. Since then, a tense situation had been prevailing on the campus. The members of both the groups equipped with sharp weapons started chasing and counter-chasing on the campus that evening. Activists of another BCL faction, “Sixty-Nine”, also loyal to AJM Nasir Uddin, joined the Concord men in the chase. Around 1:30am on Thursday, “Concord” and “Sixty-Nine” men attacked “Bijoy” men in AF Rahman Hall, where most of the members and leaders of “Bijoy” used to stay.
The BCL factional clashes in Chattogram have claimed the lives of several students not only at CU, but also at different parts of the city in the recent years. Previously, “Bijoy” was backed by late Awami League leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, father of Deputy Minister Nowfel. Apart from the two major BCL factions there are several mini-groups those often remain busy in clashes among themselves over sharing of tender business, extortion money and other illegal income. In particular, the CU BCL groups are so strong that it is impossible to get any construction work by a businessman or purchase anything bypassing them. The jailed Jubo League leader GK Shamim reportedly had kept close links with both the groups to get tender works at university and other places. The authorities had to close the university several times for the clashes between the groups.
The fact is ruling party members cannot be controlled by the university authority. The government has no control over them either. So the chaos at Chattogram University has no end in sight.
The BCL factional clashes in Chattogram have claimed the lives of several students not only at CU, but also at different parts of the city in the recent years. Previously, “Bijoy” was backed by late Awami League leader ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, father of Deputy Minister Nowfel. Apart from the two major BCL factions there are several mini-groups those often remain busy in clashes among themselves over sharing of tender business, extortion money and other illegal income. In particular, the CU BCL groups are so strong that it is impossible to get any construction work by a businessman or purchase anything bypassing them. The jailed Jubo League leader GK Shamim reportedly had kept close links with both the groups to get tender works at university and other places. The authorities had to close the university several times for the clashes between the groups.
The fact is ruling party members cannot be controlled by the university authority. The government has no control over them either. So the chaos at Chattogram University has no end in sight.
