Rokeya univ BCL men set shops on fire for extortion

Activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Rokeya University of Rangpur on Saturday allegedly vandalised a confectionary shop for extortion money, leading to hours-long clash with locals.

BCL is the student of wing of ruling Bangladesh Awami League.

At least five people were injured in the clash during which the locals blocked the Rangpur-Kurigrgam highways creating a huge tailback on the both sides of the road.   

The BCL central committee has, meanwhile, suspended the committee of its Begum Rokeya University unit after the incident. BCL general secretary SM Zakir Hossain informed Prothom Alo of the decision.

Zakir said they have formed a three-strong committee to investigate the incident. 

According to the police, witnesses and local shop owners, a group of miscreants - allegedly BCL activists - demanded extortion of one lakh taka from a fast-food shop, Lifa Fast Food and Confectionary, located near the university campus on Saturday morning. 

They ransacked the shop damaging refrigerators and other stuff when the shop owner declined to pay the extortion money.

Protesting at the BCL vandalism, local shop owners put blockade on the highway for nearly an hour.

Several rounds of chase and counter-chase took place between university students - allegedly BCL activists - and the shop owners along with locals in the evening when the students brought a protest procession against the road blockade.

During the chase and counter-chase, several shops were set on fire.

Rangpur Kotwali police station officer-in-charge ABM Zahidul Islam said they were trying to bring the situation under control.

According to UNB, at least 20 people, including a policeman and a local journalist, were injured in a clash between the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League and traders at Parker Mor in the city on Saturday afternoon.

Mehedi Hasan Shishir, president of Begum Rokeya University unit of BCL, demanded Tk 1 lakh from Parker Mor Shop Owners' Association president Sajedul Islam Lavlu, UNB quoted Rangpur Kotwali police station officer-in-charge as saying.

As Lavlu refused paying the money, Shishir along with his cohorts vandalised a fast food shop owned by Lavlu, said the UNB report.

UNB adds: Following this, Lavlu filed a case against five BCL leaders and activists including Shishir with Kotwali police station.

As the news spread on the campus, the BCL leaders and activists again went to Parker Mor and vandalised six-seven shops there.

In retaliation, the shop owners also swooped on the BCL men, triggering the clash that left 20 people injured, including sub-inspector Saiful Islam and a local journalist.

On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control.