Two Chhatra Dal Factions Clash over New Committee in Kasba, Five Injured Admitted to Hospital

Two factions of Chhatra Dal clashed in Kasba, Brahmanbaria, over a dispute centring on the newly announced committee. Five people were injured in the clash at the municipality's Swadhinata Square around 7pm on Wednesday (4 November); they have been admitted to the Upazila Health Complex.

The injured are Md Hossain Mia (40), Md Jewel Mia (30), Rabbi Mia (25), Rashedul Islam Rashed (25) and Shahidul Khan (30), a former convener of the municipal Chhatra Dal.

Local people said that on 1 November, a municipal Chhatra Dal committee was announced with Enamul Haque Apel — known as a follower of district BNP member Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan — as president and Jewel Ahmed as general secretary. On Wednesday, a celebratory procession was brought out led by Enamul Haque Apel and Jewel Ahmed. Meanwhile, another section of Chhatra Dal, including Raju Ahmed and Shahidul Khan, followers of MP Mushfiqur Rahman, brought out a protest procession against the newly formed committee.

At one stage, the two sides faced off at the municipality's Swadhinata Square, tension flared and chases and counter-chases ensued. Five followers of MP Mushfiqur Rahman were injured. Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

Deprived leader Raju Ahmed claimed that the upazila and municipal Chhatra Dal committees were announced through the interference of district BNP member Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan in exchange for black money, without valuing dedicated leaders and activists. They have been protesting ever since, he said.

Raju Ahmed said: ‘At that time, several of our people were attacked and injured. This illegal committee must be cancelled.’ He also warned that the movement would continue until the committee is scrapped.

Newly appointed municipal Chhatra Dal president Enamul Haque Apel said: ‘As a committee was formed after almost ten years, we brought out a joyous procession on Wednesday evening to congratulate Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Towards the end of the procession, a group of Chhatra Dal followers of the MP, led by Raju Ahmed, attacked us in a planned manner.’

Kasba police station's officer-in-charge, Ali Mohammad Rashed, said the situation has remained calm since the incident and police have been deployed. No one has filed any complaint with the police station so far.

After nearly ten years, district Chhatra Dal convener Shahinur Rahman Shahin and member secretary Samir Chakraborty approved a 12-member partial Kasba upazila Chhatra Dal committee with Sirajul Islam Emu as president and Shimul Mia as general secretary, and a 13-member partial municipal Chhatra Dal committee with Enamul Haque Apel as president and Jewel Ahmed as general secretary. The new committees were directed to form full committees within a month. However, a section of deprived Chhatra Dal leaders and activists has been protesting since the committees were announced.