JCD activists go on rampage on campus

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A shopkeeper succumbed to his burn injuries and several people were wounded Monday as Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activists went on rampage on the Dhaka University (DU) campus and its adjoining areas over news of injury of Tarique Rahman in custody.

The victim was identified as Jahangir Alam, 45, owner of Rafil Fashion. He died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in the afternoon, hospital sources said.

He was critically injured when the gas cylinder of a microbus exploded after JCD Dhaka College unit activists set it on fire in front of the college at 1:15 pm.

Sources said the pro-BNP students from the DU, BUET and Dhaka campus took to the streets and vandalised 10 to 12 private cars. They set ablaze two microbuses in front of the DU Rokeya hall and Dhaka College soon after the news of Tarique's injury spread.

Shopkeepers staged demonstration in New Market area after the death of Jahangir. Police halted the traffic movement in Nilkhet, New Market and Elephant Road areas during the violence, shopkeeper Anwar Miah said.

On the DU campus, the JCD activists were holding a rally when the report of Tarique's injury reached. He received the injury on his forehead falling at the bathroom at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical Hospital (BSMMU) at around 1 pm.

Soon after hearing the news, the rally marched to BSMMU at Shahbagh where Tarique was being treated. Police dispersed the rally in front of the DU Institute of Fine Arts. This provoked the JCD activists to vandalise at least 10 vehicles. They also threw brickbats at the police.

The demonstrators barricaded the entry points of DU at Nilkhet area.

However, an uneasy calm was prevailing after deployment of additional police in and around the DU campus and its adjoining areas in the afternoon.