8 members of the student movement were injured in an “internal clash” in Khulna

Eight members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement were injured yesterday in what police say were internal clashes in the Sonadanga district of Khulna city.

Some of the injured, including two women, were admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The injured students were identified as Nazmul (24), a student of Government Haji Mohammad Mohsin College; Sadia, 18, a second-year student of HSC City College, Khulna; Diya, a second year student of HSC Govt. Pioneer College; and Shahriar (23) from BL College.

Dr Kanak Hossain, deputy head of surgery at Khulna Medical College Hospital, said: “The students sustained minor injuries. Two students had breathing problems. They probably had panic attacks from fear.”

Police said the incident took place near Zia Hall in Shibbari Mor area in the afternoon when the students were returning from a program organized by the Social Service Office in Sheikhpara.

Sheikh Moniruzzaman Mithu, deputy commissioner (south) of Khulna Metropolitan Police, said internal conflict may be behind the clash.

“It appears that the coordinators themselves got involved in the fight, rather than being attacked by outsiders.”

DC said no complaints have been filed yet.

“If a complaint is received, we will take appropriate action,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mohorom Hasan Mahim, the movement’s coordinator, told The Daily Star that the attack appeared to be deliberate, although he was unable to identify the attackers.

However, another coordinator, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that this was a dispute that arose out of resentment over invitations to the program.

He said that while one group was invited, the other was not. He declined to name those involved in the violence.