CPB chief Selim among 35 hurt in BCL attack

SYLHET, Sept 15: Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) president Mujahidul Islam Selim along with at least others 35 were injured as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) attacked a meeting of CPB and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) in Sylhet city Sunday afternoon.

In protest, the two left-leaning parties called a six-hour hartal (shutdown) in the northeastern city form 6:00 am of Monday.
CPB chief Selim, who got his right hand fractured, was admitted to a private clinic.

Witnessed said around 250 people participated in the divisional meeting of the two left-leaning parties at Court Point area in the city, which began 3:30pm.

Almost one hour into the meeting, around 150 activists of BCL, student wing of the ruling Awami League, marched towards the venue with a procession, creating panic among the participants.

When the participants of the meeting preparing to go on a prayer break, the BCL men started pelting brickbats adn throwing away the chairs and vandalising the podium.

The attack left 25 of the two parties, including CPB president Selim, CPB’s Sylhet unit secretary Anwar Hossain Suman and Bangladesh Chhatra Union district unit secretary Shahiduzzaman Paplu, injured.

Members of Rab and police, who were posted 30-40 yards away near Hasan Market, remained unmoved as the attack continued for about 20 minutes, witnessed said.

Later, the participants chased the BCL men and drove them away from the scene.

risingbd/ASB