35 hurt in BCL-JCD clash

At least 35 people were injured in clashes between the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in city's Central Shaheed Minar area on Tuesday, reports UNB.
"So far, some 35 people have received first aid from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) but no one has been admitted to the hospital yet," said Bacchu Mia, inspector in-charge of DMCH police outpost.
According to witnesses, the clash erupted around 9.30 am when some BCL activists attacked JCD men near Shaheed Minar area while they were marching towards Dhaka University (DU).
Chase and counter-chase also took place between the two groups before they dispersed near the Dhaka University campus.
Aman Ullah Aman, member-secretary of DU JCD unit, said they were on their way to the varsity's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) for holding a pre-scheduled press briefing to issue a statement clarifying the comment of JCD general secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel which was perceived as "derogatory".
"As we reached near Shaheed Minar from the emergency gate of DMCH, some BCL members attacked us with locally-made sharp weapons, hockey sticks and iron rods."
He claimed that some 40 JCD activists, including senior co-president Rashed Iqbal Khan, organizing secretary Abu Mohammad Yahia, and joint convener of DU unit Ezazul Kabir Jewel, joint general secretary of DU unit Sajib Majumder and convening committee member Mansura Alam sustained injuries in the attack.
The two student groups again locked into a clash near the Doyel Chattar area, leaving some more activists injured. The JCD activists were forced to leave the area around 12 noon after they faced stiff resistance from BCl men.
At one stage, a group of BCL activists beat up two JCD men--Minhazul Abedin Nannu and Al-Amin Bablu-- after throwing them into a drain at Shahidullah Hall.
Aman Ullah Aman said religious affairs secretary Tuhin Reza and Masterda Surja Sen Hall BCL leader Syed Shariful Alam Shafu intervened and rescued them from the drain.
However, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has brushed aside the BNP's allegation that the government was behind the attack on the JCD men.
"These are political tactics. Many people spread such propaganda. There is no truth in these matters," he said while responding to a question from a reporter at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
The home minister's comment was sought on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's remark that the government carried out a planned attack on JCD men.
Regarding the clash, the home minister said every political party or group has freedom to carry out political programmes.