Leaders and activists from Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) allegedly carried out an attack on Nurul Hoque Nur, the president of Gono Odhikar Parishad, in front of Dhaka University's TSC on Wednesday.
At least 20 leaders and activists from the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad were injured, including Nur, who sustained serious injuries.
The incident occurred around 4:30 pm when Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members were attempting to hold a pre-scheduled rally to protest attacks on leaders and activists of other political parties, the killing of Madrasa student Rejaul Karim during AL's peace rally at Baitul Mukarram, and the arrests of BUET students.
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Opposing the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad's programme, Bangladesh Chhatra League activists organised a rally under the banner of 'general students of Dhaka University.'
When the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members arrived at TSC to hold their rally, they were attacked by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists.
Witnesses reported that the Chhatra League activists were already in an alert position before the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activists arrived.
Upon their arrival, the BCL activists blocked them and instigated a confrontation, they said.
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Some of the Chhatra League activists brought motorcycles and honked loudly. Eventually, the situation escalated, and the BCL activists started attacking the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members.
During the attack, the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad activists ran towards Doyel Chattar from the Raju monument, and the attackers chased them.
Ariful Islam Adib, the general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, demanded justice and said, “At least 20 of our leaders and activists have been injured. Nurul Haque Nur has been seriously injured, I'm injured too. I want Justice.”
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Tanbir Hasan Saikat, the BCL general secretary of Dhaka University unit, denied the involvement of BCL leaders in the attack. He said that the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members carried out an attack on students who were also holding a programme at TSC.
“Chhatra League had no connection to the incident. The leaders and activists of DU Chhatra Odhikar Parishad resigned as a group a few days ago. Then who are the people who came to the campus?” said the BCL leader.
“BCL leaders and activists are students too. If there were any of us, they must have joined as general students, not as BCL activists,” he said in response to a question about posted BCL leaders' involvement in the attack.
DU Proctor Prof. Maksudur Rahman said he heard about a confrontation between the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members and university students during a simultaneous programme, but claimed to have no knowledge about the attack or clash.
He also said, “Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad is not part of Paribesh Parishad and is considered outsider. He heard about a confrontation between the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad members and university students during a simultaneous programme but claimed to have no knowledge about the attack or clash.”