At least 25 persons were injured as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) locked into a clash on Dhaka University campus on Tuesday morning.

“So far, some 35 people have received first aid for injuries from the clash at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) but none has been admitted yet,” said Bacchu Mia, inspector in-charge of DMCH police outpost.

According to witnesses, the JCD members were rallying towards Dhaka University (DU) around 9.30am when some BCL activists attacked them near the Shaheed Minar area, resulting in a chase, a counter-chase and throwing of brick chips between the two groups before they dispersed near the campus.

Aman Ullah Aman, member secretary of DU unit of JCD, said they were on their way to the varsity’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) for holding a pre-scheduled press briefing to give a statement clarifying the comment of JCD general secretary Saif Mahmud Jewel which was perceived as “derogatory”.

“As we reached near Shaheed Minar from the emergency gate of DMCH, some BCL members attacked us with locally made sharp arms, hockey sticks and iron rods.”

He said some 40 JCD activists, including senior co-president Rashed Iqbal Khan, organisational secretary Abu Mohammad Yahia, joint-convener of DU unit Ezazul Kabir Jewel, joint general secretary of DU unit Sajib Majumder, and convening member Mansura Alam, sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, Saddam Hossain, general secretary of DU’s BCl unit, described the incident as a clash between members of the two rival student groups and slammed JCD general secretary’s “deregoratory” remarks on the Prime Minister.