Amid Clash Between Shibir and Chhatra Dal Members Posing as Ordinary Students, Chhatra League Forms Committee at Islamic University

BDDigest Reporter

Amidst day-long tension and clashes between Shibir and Chhatra Dal leaders and activists at the Islamic University (IB), the banned student organization Bangladesh Chhatra League announced a new committee for its EB branch on the same day.

Tensions flared between the two sides on Saturday (September 5) afternoon when a Chhatra Dal activist slapped a Shibir leader in the corridor of the campus’s Kazi Juhaer Hall. According to eyewitnesses, the exact reason for the slap was not immediately known. After that, a scuffle broke out between the two sides when Shibir leaders and activists tried to take the accused Chhatra Dal activist out of his room.

Later, an attempt was made to resolve the issue in the presence of the university proctor, student advisor and hall provost, but at one stage of the discussion, tension arose again and the Chhatra Dal leaders walked out of the meeting. It was alleged that Shibir leaders and activists vandalized the university proctor’s car while trying to rescue the accused.

Then the situation became more heated. Chhatra Dal leaders and activists came out of the hall and took up position at the main gate of the university with country-made weapons. When local Jamaat leaders and activists arrived there on the information, a clash broke out between the two sides. In this, two local Jamaat activists, Shahidul and Bablu, were injured. Additional police and RAB were deployed on the campus to control the situation.

Chhatra League committee announced on the same day

Amidst this tense situation, a new 28-member convening committee of the EB branch of Chhatra League was announced on Saturday night through a press release signed by Central Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. Mehedi Hasan Hafiz, a former student of the Political Science Department in the 2015-16 academic year, has been appointed as the convener of this committee. The release said that after the end of the committee’s term, a full-fledged committee will be formed considering organizational activities and political activism.

Political analysts see this committee announcement as a ‘balance of power’. While the power struggle between Islami Chhatra Shibir and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in various universities often makes headlines, students believe that breaking the inactivity of Bangladesh’s oldest and most powerful student organization, Bangladesh Chhatra League, and participating in student politics on campuses will end the conflict and challenge Islami Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Dal.

Administration statement

The university administration has formed an investigation committee into the clash. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. AKM Matinur Rahman said that a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident and has been asked to submit a report within 72 hours. He said that based on the report, action will be taken against the culprits and stricter steps will be taken to prevent outsiders from entering the campus.

Kushtia district’s Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Faisal Mahmud said that tension spread between the two sides over an issue and chase and counter-chase incidents took place. He said that the police normalized the situation by talking to both sides and deploying additional police. He also mentioned that the police presence has been maintained to prevent the situation from heating up again.