Moitree man killed in BCL attack

Friday, January 8, 2010

A leader of Chhatra Moitree of Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute unit was killed in an attack by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men over establishing supremacy on the campus forcing the authorities to close the institute for an indefinite period.

The Rajshahi City unit BCL dissolved the Polytechnic Institute unit committee of BCL and expelled its eight men including institute unit BCL President Nizam Uddin and General Secretary Saddam Hossain Tushar in connection with the attack.

Four people including two policemen were injured during the attack on the campus while another ten people also injured in a clash between the two groups following the death.

Rezanul Islam Chowdhury Sunny, 22, the institute unit Moitree vice-president, succumbed to his fatal head injuries at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) around 4:30pm.

Sunny, son of Monwarul Islam Chowdhury, Motihar thana Awami League's information affairs secretary and Shamima Monwar, acting vice president of the city Mohila AL, was the student of Computer department of the institute.

Police quoting Moitree leaders and witnesses said a group of BCL men equipped with sharp weapons swooped on Moitree leaders Sunny, Jewel and Bulbul in front of the administrative building around 12:00 noon and stabbed them indiscriminately.

On-duty policemen on campus rushed to the spot and constables Shahidul Islam and Ashraf received mild cut injuries to their hands while they were trying to resist the attackers.

Police rescued Sunny and Bulbul from a pool of blood and took them to RMCH.

Soon afterwards Sunny was declared dead at RMCH, Zedu Sarker, the city BCL unit general secretary, claimed that Sunny's parents are leaders of AL and Sunny was also the city unit BCL member.

But the city unit Chhatra Moitree claimed that Sunny was a vice-president of its Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute unit.

However, denying Sunny's involvement in any political parties, his father Monwarul Islam said he was the friend of two other victims--Jewel and Bulbul. He along with his two friends was going to the administration building to fill in the examination forms.

To establish the claim, a group of armed BCL and Jubo League men entered into the hospital when some Moitree workers were holding agitation protesting the killing.

At one stage, a clash ensued between the two groups and it lasted for half an hour, leaving at least 10 people injured. Later, BCL men took control of the hospital and drove out the Moitree workers.

Police said yesterday's attack was carried out in retaliation for the attack of Moitree workers on BCL leaders including Nizam several months back over establishing supremacy on the campus.

Confirming the closure of the institute, its principal Joynal Abedin told The Daily Star in the evening that the students were asked to vacate their dormitories by 5:00pm yesterday.

Kazi Abdul Motaleb Jewel, the Polytechnic Institute unit Moitree president and a final year student of Computer department, was undergoing treatment at RMCH while its executive member Bulbul was sent to Dhaka in an unconscious state.

Police arrested four BCL men---Shamsul Huda, Shariful Islam, Zahidul Islam Manik, and Nahid Sarwar--from the spot.

The city unit Chhatra Moitree president Matiur Rahman Matin blamed BCL activists who are the followers of the institute unit BCL president for the attack.

Kafil Uddin, an assistant commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, said the attack was pre-planned and police have started investigation.

Lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha, also a politburo member of Workers' Party, said, "The incident occurred as authorities concerned did not take any step against the miscreants earlier."

BCL leader Zedu Sarker claimed that some Chhatra Shibir men somehow joined the BCL and made the attack.

Chhatra Moitree staged a demonstration in the city yesterday evening and demanded arrest of the attackers.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=120992