Police detain 17 over Sylhet SUST clash

Police have detained 17 persons over the clash at the Shahjajal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet.

A case has been filed by the police against 250 unidentified people over the factional clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) unit of SUST left one dead on Thursday.

BCL is the student affiliate of the ruling Awami League.

Meanwhile, the university authorities and the victim's family are also preparing to file separate cases, said Jalalabad police OC Akhter Hossain.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner Rahmat Ullah said they nabbed 17 persons during the night raids in different parts of the city.

Identities of the detained are yet to be known. Police say the detainees include SUST's BCL activists as well as activists from other units.

Meanwhile, firearm and machetes were recovered in a raid at a Sylhet city unit BCL leader's home in the city.

Jalalabad Police Station OC Akhter Hossain said that they have recovered a loaded revolver and 19 machetes from the house of BCL leader 'Shiplu' at the city's Madina Market area.

Police, however, is yet to trace the BCL leader.

Two groups of SUST BCL unit were engaged in a turf war on Thursday, which left one dead.

According to SUST students, both groups had BCL activists from outside the campus.

Following the clash, SUST authorities closed the university for an indefinite period and instructed students to vacate dormitories.

The university's admission process will, however, continue, said SUST Admission Committee's Member Secretary Md Faruk Uddin. An entry test for the university is scheduled for Nov 25.