30 injured in BCL-Shibir clashes

At least 30 people were injured in a series of clashes between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir in Monohorganj upazila in Comilla  district on Thursday. Locals said activists of the upzila unit BCL caught Anwar Hossain, finance secretary of the Monoharganj unit (East) of Shibir, and informed police after confining him to a room of Natherpetua Fazil Madrasa in the morning. In sequel to the incident, a chase and counter chase took place between the local BCL and Shibir activists when about 100 Shibir men went to the spot to snatch away their leader. Equipped with sticks, brick chips and sharp weapons, supporters of the two parties attacked each other, leaving 30 injured on either side. Jakir Hossain, an Awami League-backed candidate in the Upazila Parishad election, was among the injured. During the clashes, BCL activists set fire to a library of Shibir-run Islami Social Welfare Parishad. Mohamamd Harun-or-Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Monohorganj Police Station, said some jihadi (religion uprising) books, one crude bomb and some joint pieces of pipe were recovered from the local Shibir office. Two people were arrested in this connection, the OC added, according to UNB.