Concerns Grow Over Violence at Dhaka University
Is the campus of University of Dhaka turning into a hub for militant groups and a refuge for “mob justice”? A series of violent incidents in recent days has intensified that question. Even before the shock of the killing of Tofazzal had faded, a new incident has emerged in which a student was brutally beaten while eating sehri before dawn. Separately, students—including a female activist—were attacked over the playing of the historic 7 March speech, raising serious concerns about campus security and freedom of expression.
According to allegations, a student of Dhaka University, Rahid Khan Pavel, was sitting down to eat sehri early in the morning when a group of young men surrounded him. Eyewitness accounts and posts circulating on social media claim that several extremist students associated with groups linked to Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, or operating under the banner of “Jatiya Chhatra Shakti” carried out what has been described as a “mob trial”, beating him severely.
His alleged “offence” was posting the historic 7 March speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Facebook. After the assault, he was reportedly left in a critically injured and semi-conscious state in front of Shahbag Police Station. Images and videos circulating on X (formerly Twitter) show injuries on his body that many say illustrate the extreme nature of ideological hostility on campus.
Another violent confrontation reportedly took place yesterday in front of Shahbag Police Station, also linked to the 7 March programme. In protest against the detention of former student leader Asif Ahmed Soikot, activists named Imi and Abdullah Al Mamun attempted to play the speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman over loudspeakers mounted on a rickshaw.
They were allegedly obstructed and assaulted by a group of students led by activists of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and several former leaders of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, including A. B. Zubair and Mosaddeq Ibn Ali. Witnesses claim that the two were dragged inside the police station compound and beaten near the gate.
Police later filed a case against them under anti-terrorism legislation and on 8 March they were sent to jail. The incident has also led to accusations that journalists were attacked by police during the unrest.
Amid these developments, attention has again turned to the killing of Tofazzal Hossain at Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall. The mentally distressed young man had been accused of theft and was reportedly beaten to death after being fed rice and assaulted repeatedly. Investigations suggested the involvement of some activists linked to the anti-discrimination student movement as well as former members of Bangladesh Chhatra League.
A succession of such incidents, observers say, indicates that “mob justice” is becoming a troubling pattern on campus, regardless of political affiliation.
Pavel is currently receiving treatment in hospital, while three students—including Imi and Mamun—remain in jail. Many students say that physical assaults over ideological differences, or even over playing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s speech, threaten to undermine the democratic environment of the university.
Others allege that certain groups are effectively turning parts of the campus into their own strongholds, using intimidation against those with opposing views.
Although the university administration and law enforcement agencies say they are monitoring the situation, many students say serious doubts remain about safety on campus.
