JU suspends 16 BCL men over internal clash

The Jahangirnagar University has suspended 16 Bangladesh Chhatra League activists over a factional clash and acts of vandalism at the Maolana Bhashani Hall.

Proctor Tapan Kumar Saha said the decision had been taken at a Syndicate meeting on Thursday night.

It also launched an investigation into the incident. Anthropology Professor Rasheda Akhtar is in charge of a five-member committee.

The Proctor said action would be taken against the suspended students based on the committee’s report, due in a week.

The clash between two rival factions of Chhatra League took place around 4:30am Thursday at the hall.

At least 10 students including Bhashani Hall President Shakil Ahmed and member Rokanujjaman Sabuj were injured.

Chhatra League activist Didar Hossain, who belongs to one of the warring factions, alleged that university unit Organising Secretary Nur Nabi and Bhashani Hall Secretary ‘Aninda’ and their supporters attacked the hall with sticks and sharp weapons around 4:30am.

They vandalised 25 rooms and stabbed Humayun, Shakil and Sabuj.

Nur Nabi, on the other hand, alleged that Shakil’s supporters “attacked first” and tried to throw Aninda out of the hall.

In the early hours of Friday police raided the hall. Eyewitnesses said Aninda and his supporters climbed the back wall and escaped.

Shakil’s faction entered the hall again in presence of the university administration and police.