Pabna Medical College closed indefinitely after clash of BCL factions

Authorities of Pabna Medical College have shut down the institution indefinitely following a clash between factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the ruling party’s student affiliate.

Students have been instructed to vacate the campus by Friday afternoon.

However, student who have exams will be allowed to stay upon producing proper documents, said Principal Md Reazul Haque.

The clash, over a ‘trivial issue’, left several injured, he said but could not provide any details.

Police said that the clashes between two rival BCL groups broke out early on Friday.

Several injured in clashes have been admitted to the Pabna Medical College Hospital, said Pabna police OC Adbur Razzak.

Several students, asking not to be named, said the clashes were between factions led by the college BCL unit President Mahfuzur Rahman Nayan and General Secretary Adwitiya Dey.

According to them, donations raised from pharmaceutical companies for the college’s clubs and associations led to the clash.

Nayan and Dey, however, denied of raising donations and blamed each other for assaulting students.

“Adwitiya and his followers along with some outsiders attacked the students. The clash broke out when we protested it,” BCL President Nayan said.

He claimed nine of his followers were injured in the clashes, but could not provide their identities.

General Secretary Dey claimed they were attacked by some unidentified armed men.

According to him, some junior students harassed female seniors during an orientation meeting for new students. “Soon after we protested it, armed men attacked us leaving seven to eight people, including some of our seniors injured.”

He, however, could not provide the identities of the attackers or the victims.

Police said they have deployed additional forces on the campus and the hospital premises.

The college authorities have opened an inquiry, said Principal Haque.

A three-member panel led by the head of Medicine Department Professor Abu Md Shafiqul Hasan have been formed to investigate it, he said.