A clash between two groups took place on the second day of the ongoing agitation program at Barishal University (BU) demanding the withdrawal of the 'Prayatya' scheme of the universal pension scheme.
At least 10 people from both groups were injured in the clash in the area adjacent to the administrative building on Tuesday (July 2) afternoon. Four of them have been hospitalized.
Eyewitnesses said that there was a clash between the Officers Association and the Direct Officers Association. After this incident, there is extreme tension between the two groups of university officials.
According to sources, when a newly formed organization of officers in the name of Direct Officers Association wanted to join the University Officers Association, which was agitating under the banner, there was first an argument, then scuffles and clashes between the two groups. At that time, when both groups attacked and counter-attacked with plastic chairs, injuries occurred.
According to a source in the university officials, rivalry between the two groups started when the supporters of the current mayor formed another officers' association when the former mayor's supporters were in majority in the officers' association.
President of Barishal University Teachers Association Md. Baten Chowdhury said that the clash took place between those who became officers directly and those who became officers through promotion. Several members of the Direct Officers Association were injured.
University Accounts Officer SM Iqbal said, we started protesting against the pension scheme peacefully. At this time, the attack happened. Several of us were injured. Among them, Deputy Director Abul Hossain has been admitted to the hospital.
Barishal University Officer Association President Bahauddin Golap said, We have been agitating under the banner of Officer Association for a long time. Suddenly today the agitators came in front of us with a banner in the name of Direct Officers Association and became furious. We are the only recognized organization of officers in the university.
He also said that we were attacked first and then counter-attacked. In this incident, four people including university doctor Tanjim Hossain were admitted to the hospital. At least 6/7 others sustained minor injuries. Bahauddin Golap said that they have planned to stab the ongoing movement from behind.
On the other hand, Subrata Kumar Bahadur, president of the Direct Officers Association, said that the people of the Officers Association attacked them without provocation during the ongoing program.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Barishal Bandar police station M.R. Mukul said, two groups of officers of Barishal University retaliated against the position. After the situation got a little chaotic, the situation came under control with the intervention of the police and teachers.
The registrar of the university, Monirul Islam, said that the vice-chancellor has already ordered to investigate the incident properly and take necessary measures. We collected videos from CCTV footage and started analyzing them.