Five Dhaka College Chhatra Dal leaders have faced organizational action a day after a clash with Jubo Dal activists over collecting money from pavement shops at New Market. One was expelled from the party’s primary membership and four were removed from organizational posts for violating discipline.
The information was announced in a statement signed on Wednesday by Chhatra Dal office secretary Mohammad Jahangir Alam, who holds the rank of vice-president.
According to the statement, the central Chhatra Dal parliament expelled former Dhaka College unit general secretary Julhas Mridha from primary membership on specific allegations of violating organizational discipline. Joint conveners Suman Shikdar and Prince Khandaker, and members Sagar Khan and Mirza Golam Raihan, were removed from their organizational posts on the same allegation. Chhatra Dal president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir approved the decision.
The previous evening, around 7:30pm on Tuesday, a clash broke out in front of the Balaka Cinema Hall over collecting money from pavement shops. Dhaka College Chhatra Dal activists accused New Market police-station Jubo Dal activists of attacking them.
Several people were injured, including Dhaka College Chhatra Dal joint convener Prince Khandaker, Mohammad Suman Sikder, students Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahman from the 2020-21 academic year, Saimon Islam, Sagar Khan and Jihadul Islam.
Dhaka College Chhatra Dal convening committee member Jihadul Islam said followers of New Market Jubo Dal member-secretary KM Chanchal came to collect money from the pavement shops. When students protested, he said, they were verbally abused and the group called Chanchal. Jihadul alleged that 40 to 50 people led by Chanchal then attacked from behind with Chinese axes, other sharp weapons and sticks, injuring many students. He said his head was split and his hand broken, and that eight to ten more students were injured.
Jihadul claimed that those involved were all Chhatra Dal officeholders and activists. Local and police sources, however, said Chanchal’s people operate the pavement shops in front of the cinema hall. They said an initial scuffle began when several Dhaka College Chhatra Dal leaders tried to remove the shops, followed by an alleged attack by 50 to 60 people carrying sticks and machetes.
After news spread on campus, more than 100 Chhatra Dal activists vandalized Chanchal’s political office in a lane beside Priyangon Market and another clash followed. At least 15 to 20 people were injured and were receiving treatment at different hospitals, according to the report. Dhaka College Chhatra Dal assistant office secretary Hasan Farazi said at least 15 activists, including Prince Khandaker, Suman Shikdar, Sagar Khan, Saimon Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim and Jihadul Islam, were injured and were being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Popular Hospital.
KM Chanchal denied attacking the Chhatra Dal activists and said he was not present. He said outsiders claiming to be Dhaka College Chhatra Dal members had assaulted Jubo Dal workers and vandalized and looted his office.
New Market police station officer-in-charge Mohsin Uddin said the clash was over setting up pavement shops and that the situation was normal, with police deployed. He said no complaint had been received but legal action would follow if one was filed.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report