The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

At least 50 people, including four teachers, 12 students and 30 traders, were injured in a violent clash yesterday between Habibullah Bahar University College students and Karnaphuli Garden City businessmen over nonpayment of fast-food bills.

Police said four students of HSC level of the college went to the Karnaphuli Garden City Shopping Complex and took foods on the 4th floor food shop at about 11:00am. They reportedly misbehaved with women customers in the shop. A fierce brawl between the students and the shop employees ensued as they failed to fully pay the bill.

Witness said at one stage, the employees assaulted and confined them, which triggered massive student protests.

When set free, the students returned to the college and apprised Principal Md Abu Bakkar with teacher Azam, Saifur Rahman of the incident. Later, he sent three teachers along with the students to the shop owner at the luxurious shopping mall to settle the dispute.

When they came here, all the shop employees of the market banded and beat up the teachers and the students, source said.

This outrageous action infuriated the college students and almost all of them came out onto the street nearby as the news spread fast on the campus at about 12:30pm.

The students and businessmen took position on the busy Malibagh-Kakrail road and fought pitched battles, disrupting traffic for three fours till 1:00pm. A nagging traffic-congestion was created all around the area.

The agitating students stoned the shopping-complex, vandalising its front glass-entrance.

Both the groups hurled brickbats at police who rushed in to calm the trouble.

Failing to storm into the college, the unruly businessmen hurled brickbats at the college, destroying the door and windowpanes.

Afterwards, the Principal with the help of police took the stone-throwing students back into the college.

The law-enforcers brought the situation under control at 2:00pm. Additional forces were deployed in the area.