Clashes mar Victory Day celebrations

Members of Bangladesh Chhatra League allegedly attacked some followers of former Ducsu vice-president Nurul Haque in Brahmanbaria while they were paying homage to martyrs marking the Victory Day yesterday.

At least eight to 10 activists were injured in the attack that took place around 9:00am near the district town's Faruki Park memorial, claimed Nurul's organisation Chhatra O Jubo Odhikar Parishad.

According to witnesses, Nurul's followers went to pay homage to martyrs under the banner of Chhatra O Jubo Odhikar Parishad.

On the way, Brahmanbaria Chhatra League President Rabiul Hossain Rubel and his followers tried to bar them and tagged them as Jamaat-Shibir men.

At one point, Chhatra League men swooped on Nurul's followers when they were leaving the area after paying homage. Both groups locked in a clash which created panic in the area, the witnesses added.

Jewel Mia, general secretary of the parishad's Brahmanbaria unit, alleged that only three to four members of their group were allowed inside the park to pay homage to the martyrs whereas at least 40 of them were present outside.

They came under attack suddenly when they were returning after paying homage. Ashraful Hasan, president of the parishad's Brahmanbaria unit, was injured in the attack, he added.

Asked, Brahmanbaria Chhatra League President Rabiul said Jamaat-Shibir men, under the banner of the parishad, chanted provocative slogans.

As a result, students chased them away and BCL activists brought out a procession against anti-Liberation War forces.

Contacted, Abdur Rahim, officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Police Station, said he was unaware of the incident.

In separate incidents, fractions of teachers at Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) and officers at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia locked in altercation while paying homage marking the day.

At PUST, two groups of teachers locked in altercation while placing floral wraths as homage at the Liberation War Memorial on the campus.

As a result, the organisers postponed a pre-scheduled Victory Day programme, reported our Pabna correspondent, quoting university sources.

The incident took place when a group of teachers led by PUST Teachers Association President Omar Faruk and its secretary Fazlul Haque went for paying homage to the martyrs at memorial on the campus ground.

Another group of teachers led by Kamal Hossain, assistant professor of business administration department, tried to stop them which sparked altercation between two groups of teachers.

Kamal, however, denied allegation against him.

Prof Abdul Alim, a senior teacher of the university, said the incident was unwanted.

Contacted, PUST Vice-chancellor Prof M Rostom Ali said the university authority will investigate the matter.

In Kushtia, an altercation ensued between two groups of officers while they were paying homage around 11:00am, reported our Kushtia correspondent.

There are allegations that some members of Officers' Association who belong to BNP and Jamaat and patronised by a former vice-chancellor went to the altar with putting shoes on feet.

As Chhatra League men, who were volunteers, and some officers from rival groups protested the incident, an altercation ensued between the two groups.

Proctor Paresh Chandra Burman said he was present at the spot but unable to do something.

IU VC Prof Abdus Salam said the incident was unwanted.