At least 40 people including 15 security guards of the Dhaka Central Jail were injured in a clash with Government Alia Madrassah students over possession of a playground at Bakshi Bazar in the capital’s Lalbagh area yesterday.
The Alia Madrassah students alleged that 20 to 25 of jail guards also attacked one of their boarding houses–Shaheed Ibrahim Hostel–a two storied building and ransacked all of its 12 rooms. They also broke the windowpanes of the hostel and took away eight cell phone sets and a computer.
Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui told the New Nation “Some fifteen jail guards received minor injuries as a group of the Madrassah students pelted the jail guards with brickbats,”
However, witnesses said at least 25 of the madrasa students were also injured slightly in the incident.
Naba Jyoti Khisha officer-in-charge of Lalbagh Police Station said that some of the jail guards were playing volleyball while a group of the madrasa students were playing cricket at the same time in the playground.
The authorities of the Central Jail and Alia Madrassah had a rivalry over capturing the playground. Finally they had reached an understanding that they both would use the playground.
But the students and jail-wardens locked in altercation in the morning over playing on the playground.
At one stage, a scuffle ensued between the two groups, leading to the clash. Chase and counter chase happened during the period.
The injured received first aid at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, jail hospital and surrounding dispensaries.
An altercation between the two sides ensued at one stage and DIG of prisons Shamsul Haider Siddiqui went to the spot.
But the dispute continued and they started hurling stones at one another. The DIG took shelter at a nearby house at the time.
On information, police rushed in and charged batons on the feuding groups and brought the situation under control.
Source: The New Nation