Several injured in clash as SAD members free Khulna club from Gono Odhikar Parishad control

Several people have been injured in Khulna during a clash which erupted as members of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) reportedly went to free a club building from the clasp of Gono Odhikar Parishad members.

In Khulna city's Shantidham Mor area, the Panchabithi Krira Chakra Club had reportedly been occupied and turned into an office by the political party Gono Odhikar Parishad (GAP).

At around 10pm yesterday (19 March), students affiliated with SAD attempted to free the club, said police. 

Initially, GAP members drove them away, but the students returned in greater numbers and launched another attempt to free the club. This led to several rounds of clashes, and eventually, the GAP members fled.  

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khulna Sadar Police Station Haoladar Sanowar Hussain stated that multiple people from both sides were injured in the altercations. The police have taken control of the building and placed it under guard. 

The property belongs to the government's Public Works Department and will soon be handed over to the authorities, the OC said.

The abandoned government building was allocated to Panchabithi Krira Chakra in 2010, and the club had been operating there for 14 years. However, on 27 January GAP activists forcibly occupied the premises by breaking the locks and setting up their office, putting up a banner that read "Gono Odhikar Parishad, Khulna Metropolitan and District Office."  

Following the incident, the GAP central committee dismissed its Khulna city unit general secretary Sheikh Rashedul Islam, for his alleged involvement in the property grabbing. Despite this, Rashedul continued to use the building as the party's office.  

Speaking to The Business Standard, Rashedul claimed that yesterday night, he and his associates were offering Tarawih prayers inside the office when the students attacked them and forced them out. He stated that at least 10 people, including himself, were injured. 

Sajidul Islam Bappi, a central co-coordinator of the Students Against Discrimination and secretary of its Khulna district unit, however, claimed that GAP members attacked the students, leaving them injured.

He said, "Panchabithi Club was a historic cultural and social center for the area. However, in recent months, some extortionists under the name of GAP illegally occupied it, turning it into their base and extorting money from local shopkeepers and businesses. Despite repeated protests from locals, their activities continued. 

"As such, we students took a stand against the occupiers. When we attempted a peaceful takeover, the GAP members refused to leave and attacked the students, injuring at least 10-12 people. Eventually, they were forced to flee."  

Regarding the incident, GAP President Nurul Haque Nur wrote a Facebook post at 10:30pm yesterday, saying, "I strongly condemn and protest the attack on our leaders and activists in Khulna. If the administration fails to take action against these criminals, Gono Odhikar Parishad members will give them a fitting response."