Chhatra Dal, Shibir clash at Pabna’s Ishwardi Govt College

A series of clashes broke out between activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir at Ishwardi Government College campus in Pabna’s Ishwardi upazila this morning.

​The incident occurred around 11:30am when both student organisations held counter rallies on the campus.

​Md Asadur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ishwardi Police Station, told The Daily Star that tension arose after both student organisations organised separate protest marches on campus following the April 21 clash in Chattogram City College.

​"The situation escalated into chase and counter-chase, during which a temporary shed used as a Chhatra Dal office was vandalised," the OC said.

Police were deployed immediately, and the situation was brought under control, the OC said.

​Imran Hossain Khan, vice-president of the college unit Chhatra Dal, told local reporters, “Our activists were positioned peacefully on campus. Suddenly, Shibir activists, accompanied by outsiders, launched an attack to create panic."

He alleged that Shibir activists specifically targeted and vandalised their temporary office near the college gate.

​Sajib Hasan, president of Ishwardi upazila Chhatra Shibir, refuted the claims, saying, “We had a pre-scheduled protest programme for which we obtained permission from the college authorities and sought police cooperation. When our procession reached the college gate from Bokul Mor, Chhatra Dal activists began pelting us with stones, leading to the clash."

​The OC confirmed that while the situation is currently stable, neither party has filed a formal complaint yet.