‘BCL’ men attack cultural programme venue, stab three

Two violent attacks by alleged members of ruling Awami League’s student front have left three injured in Sylhet.

It was apparently retribution for refusal by concert organisers to allow their men in without tickets in a programme at the city’s Kabi Nazrul Auditorium on Thursday.
 
One of the victims, Sylhet Sammillito Natya Parishad General Secretary Rajat Kanti Gupta, said, BCL activist ‘Parvez’ and his followers tried to enter the concert organised by Flames, a cultural organisation of private Metropolitan University, around 7:30pm. 
 
“A few minutes after they were barred by the organisers, he led a group of 20-25 armed activists and attacked Flames members outside the venue.”
 
Computer science student Lokman Hossain Nakib, 23, and BBA student Saymon Mia, 22, were stabbed. 
 
Hours later, around 10:30am, after the concert ended and cultural activists started preparing for a Friday evening programme, the ‘BCL’ men attacked again. 
 
Rajat, who was to host the stipend-giving ceremony organised by the Jalalabad Association, was there to oversee the work and ended up with a broken arm and stab wounds.
 
“Chhatra League activists including Parvez and Pradyut entered the hall and attacked us. They hit me with sharp weapons even before I realised what was going on.”
 
Assistant Commissioner of Police Sazzadul Hasan told bdnews24.com: “Three were injured but we are not sure of Chhatra League ties.”
 
Chief of BCL’s city unit, Rahat Tarafdar, denied his organisation’s involvement and said the attackers were using their name for extortion and other illegal acts. 
 
He also appealed to the administrations to catch the real culprits.