POBNEWS24, Dhaka Nov 1, 2021 :Extortion at the drug store in the hospital area is at the root of the dispute between the two sides of the BCL on the Chittagong Medical College (Chamek) campus. Besides, there is control of broker and ambulance business in different wards of the hospital. For this, both the parties got involved in repeated fights for dominance in the campus and dormitory. This information has come to light after talking to the leaders and workers of Chhatra League at different levels and the police.
Chameke is a follower of AJM Nasir Uddin, a former mayor and general secretary of Nagar Awami League. The party has been controlling the campus for a decade and a half. Prior to this, the campus was under the control of BNP-Jamaat till 2008. For three years, another faction of the BCL was active outside the Nasir Party. That party is a follower of Deputy Minister of Education and Chairman of Chamek Hospital Management Committee Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury. The two sides have clashed on campus at least four times in the past two years. One party alleges extortion against the other.
When asked, Abhijit Das, a follower of Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury’s party, told Prothom Alo that the other party patronizes drug dealers, extorts in floating shops and controls the ambulance business. The shop owner has to pay the share of the subscription to the Habib-Shimul faction of Chhatra League.
Habibur Rahman, president of AJM Nasir’s follower College Chhatra League, and Al Amin alias Shimul, general secretary, were repeatedly called to inquire about the allegations, but did not answer. Later, former general secretary of Chamek Student Parliament Pritam Saha was also called. He did not pick up the phone.
AJM Nasir Uddin did not agree to comment on the matter. On the other hand, it was not possible to talk to Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury as he was physically ill.
Last Friday, there was a fight between the two sides of Chhatra League at the main dormitory of Chamek. Two students were injured at the time. As a result, Mahadi J Akib of the other party was attacked while going to class on Saturday morning. The second-year student is currently being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The college was declared closed indefinitely after the incident. The students left the dormitory in the night. College authorities have formed a five-member investigation committee headed by Matiur Rahman Khan, head of the surgery department. The committee will report within seven days.
Police have arrested two persons in connection with a fight between two factions of Chhatra League. They were arrested from the college campus on Saturday night. They are Raktim Dey (21) and Enamul Hossain alias Simanta (21). Both are MBBS second year students. Both are accused in the case. Akib’s distant brother and Chamek student Taufiqur Rahman filed the case as a plaintiff. The names of 16 people were mentioned in the case. Panchlaish police inspector (investigation) Sadequr Rahman said the two arrested have been remanded for five days.
Meanwhile, Mahibul’s followers have rallied under the banner of students of all walks of life to demand justice for the attackers on Akib. The other side of the BCL was blamed for the attack on Mahadi from a human chain and rally held in front of the Chamek main gate yesterday afternoon.
