Clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) also took place in front of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) building on the Supreme Court premises. Several JCD activists were injured during the clashes. Among them, Nahid Chowdhury, an activist of Jagannath University, is in critical condition. He was later taken to Islami Bank Hospital in Kakrail by an ambulance, sources said.
Witnesses said the clash started when BCL activists attacked JCD leaders and activists in front of the High Court when the latter group was on its way to DU campus around 12:00pm. Some of the JCD activists managed to enter the High Court area but the BCL activists chased them and beat them up inside the court premises.
The incident occurred two days after BCL activists reportedly beat up JCD counterparts on DU campus.
JCD leaders and activists had been gathering in the vicinity of the High Court area since morning to observe the program announced earlier in protest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's remark about BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. They brought out a procession around 12.00 pm. The procession continued to move towards Doel Chattar of Dhaka University from the High Court gate.
Meanwhile, the BCL leaders and activists had already taken a position in Shishu Academy and the Doel Chattar area. When the procession of Chhatra Dal crossed the Mazar gate of the High Court and proceeded towards Doel Chattar, it was obstructed by Chhatra League. Then activists of both the organizations engaged in a clash. Leaders and activists of both the organizations were seen carrying sticks, hockey sticks and rods.
At one stage of the clash, some of the JCD activists managed to enter the High Court area but the BCL activists chased them and beat them up inside the court premises. After a while, some people were found lying injured near the gangway of the Bar Association building.
Among them, Nahid Chowdhury, a JCD activist of Jagannath University, was seriously injured. He and other injured were later taken to different hospitals by an ambulance, sources said.
Apart from Nahid Chowdhury, the injured are Nazmul Islam Bahar, former vice-president of Mirpur Bangla College Chhatra Dal, HM Shamim Hossain, activist of Dhaka City South Unit of Chhatra Dal, Labu Bepari, former assistant general secretary of the same unit and Jannat, an activist of Eden College Chhatra Dal.
SM Masum Billah, an assistant secretary of Dhaka City South Unit of Chhatra Dal, said, “We entered the Supreme Court area shelter. But the Chhatra League attacked us there too. At least 20 to25 JCD activists were injured after the attack. Three to four among the injured activists are in critical condition.”
The private car of Supreme Court lawyer and former BNP leader Taimur Alam Khandaker was vandalized during the clash. Later he told the reporters, "We see the signs of a bloody conflict that took place in this country before the national elections. Vandalizing car coming inside the Supreme Court, what type of sign is it? Earlier, we didn't see anyone clash inside the Supreme Court."
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court administration sat in a meeting after the clash over the security question of the justice-seeking people, lawyers, and the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Registrar General Md Bazlur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of police of Ramna range, and other officials of the Appellate and High Court divisions of the SC were present at the meeting, said Appellate Division registrar Md Saifur Rahman.
The officials said, “The security of the Supreme Court premises will be tightened since Sunday next. The movement will be controlled at the gates of the Supreme Court. Measures will be taken so that the justice-seeking people and lawyers can stay in the Supreme Court without any hindrance. Arrangements will be made to prevent any outsider from entering the court premises.”
Pro-BNP lawyers of the Supreme Court immediately brought out a procession to protest the attack, vandalism and clash on the court premises. They demanded the resignation of the law minister and the attorney general.