Chittagong College raids lead to four police cases against Shibir leaders, activists

Four cases have been filed following police raids on Chittagong College dormitories dominated by members of the Islami Chhatra Shibir that unearthed piles of local weapons and handmade explosives.

Cases filed at the Chakbazar Police Station accused 60, naming 19 individuals. One among those identified has been arrested, said OC Atik Ahmed Chowdhury.

He said the leaders from the Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing at the Chittagong College have been accused but refused to name them.

Detectives of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Kotwali Police and Chakbazak police raided the halls - Shahid Suhrawardy and Sher-e-Bangla – for almost four hours on Thursday noon.

They found six hand bombs, 16 double-edged knives, nearly three kilograms of gunpowder, 25 crackers, 25 small containers, glass bottles, tape and other bomb-making ingredients, said CMP Deputy Commissioner Kamrul Amin.

Police also raided the college medical centre, mosque, and the home of Sher-e-Bangla Hall provost Ekramul Haque, an associate professor at the department of economics.

Fourth-grade employee at the college Mohiuddin Masud, 28, was arrested during the drive.

“Two Chakbazak SI Alamgir and Yunus Miah filed the four cases at night. The probe didn’t implicate any teacher but they too will be accused,” said OC Atik.

The residential halls of the Chittagong College have long been dominated by Shibir leaders and activists and there are allegations that they are used as launch pads for various criminal activities.