Thaindian News

Dhaka, April 26 (IANS) Gunshots were fired in a clash at the Dhaka University campus early Tuesday as two factions of the students wing of the ruling Awami League fought pitched battles.

At least 70 students were injured, 15 critically, when activists of two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) clashed at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall of Dhaka University, media reports said.

Around 30 to 35 gunshots were fired and over 20 cocktails exploded during the hour-long clash, witnesses said.

The gunshots were fired a few minutes after the clash ensued, sending panic among the resident students, Star Online, website of The Daily Star reported.

Witnesses said the clash broke out when the followers of Mohsin Hall’s BCL president Mohammad Ali, and its general secretary Mohiuddin attacked the supporters of hall unit organising secretary, Mohiuddin Mahi, with firearms and lethal weapons following a conflict over attending a hall programme last week.

Dhaka University Proctor K.M. Saiful Islam told The Daily Star that they have formed a three-member committee headed by Abu Taleb, house tutor of the hall, to probe the incident.

“Stern actions will be taken against the students involved in the clash,” Saiful said.

Faction fighting within BCL, and the Jubo League, the youth wing, are frequent.

Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, who is ex-officio chief of all party fronts, resigned last year to express her anguish at continuing violence.

Violence by ruling party cadres is one of the charges Hasina’s rival and former prime minister Khaleda Zia frequently makes at public rallies.