A room of private-run dormitory Himi Chhatrabas at Khalpara near Dinajpur Government College bears testimony to Chhatra League activists' vandalism and arson attack during their clash with Islami Chhatra Shibir activists on Tuesday night.Photo: STAR

At least 25 people including 4 policemen were injured and a private dormitory was burnt as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir got locked in a clash in Dinajpur Government College on Tuesday night.
The academic council of the college in a meeting presided over by Principal Ahmed Hossain yesterday decided to shut the college for indefinite period to avert further clash between the two student organisations.
The authorities also asked resident students to vacate five dormitories of the college within 3:00pm yesterday.
Witnesses said BCL activists led by a BCL leader beat up three Shibir activists at Suihari in Dinajpur town at around 8:30pm on Tuesday.
In reaction to the incident, Shibir activists at around 10:30pm threw brickbats targeting Ajoy Hall, a dormitory resided by BCL men.
Consequently, the two groups locked in a clash with brickbats, sticks and sharp weapons, creating panic in the area.
At around 11:20pm, BCL activists set fire to a private-run dormitory named 'Himi Chhatrabas' at Khalpara near Dinajpur Government College. Mostly Shibir men reside at the dormitory.
The fire burnt all the 12 rooms of the dormitory. Fire fighters rushed to the spot and doused the fire.
The clash left 25 people injured. They were admitted to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, from where Shibir activist Nazmul Alam, 23, was shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital with serious injuries.
At around 12:00am, police arrived at the spot and used eight tear gas shells and rubbers bullets to control the situation.
Aslam Iqbal, officer in charge of Dinajpur police station, said, "The situation is now under control. A large number of policemen have been posted in the area."
However, tension was prevailing on the campus.
When contacted, Md Motiur Rahman, president of Dinajpur town unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, said, "The Chhatra League activists attacked our supporters as a sequel to the clash at Rajshahi University. They looted the private dormitory before setting fire to it."
On the other hand, Shabbir Ahmed Sujon, general secretary of local unit of BCL, said the clash erupted as Shibir activists attacked the Chhatra League men on Tuesday night.