Allegations have been raised against leaders and activists of the Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of NCP, of beating a Dhaka University (DU) student in several rounds on suspicion of being a member of Chhatra League and then handing him over to the police. The victim student also alleges that a mobile phone, bike keys, and wallet were snatched from him during this time.
The incident occurred during Sehri time in the early hours of Monday. The victim, Rahid Khan Pavel, is a student of the 2020-21 academic session in the Department of Philosophy at Dhaka University.
Pavel stated that he had gone to the Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall canteen at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) to have sehri. Leaders and activists of the DU branch of Chhatra Shakti were also present in the same canteen.
He alleges that “without any reason,” a group of 20 to 25 people led by Chhatra Shakti leaders and activists beat him for “two to two and a half hours” at that time.
Those accused in this incident include Saifullah, a leader of the National Chhatra Shakti’s Dhaka University branch; Hasib Al Islam, a leader of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement; Sardar Nadim Mohammad Shuvro; Mohammad Mohiuddin; Abrar; and several others.
Pavel said, “I even told them that if I was guilty, they should hand me over to the police. But they didn’t listen to anything I said.”
According to his account, after the first round of beating, he was beaten again at Palashi Square in the capital. Then, after being brought by motorcycle to the VC Chattra area of Dhaka University, Chhatra Shakti leaders and activists also punched and kicked him there.
Pavel said, “My whole body aches, and blood is coming from my mouth. They punched me in the face with the bike keys. They beat me with a belt. They stood on my legs and beat me. They even kicked my whole body after throwing me on the ground. I can’t move at all.”
He said, “Later, when my condition worsened, they abandoned me at Shahbagh Police Station. They beat me calling me Chhatra League. I have never been in any organisation. I hold no post.”
As of the time of writing this report, no connection of Pavel with Chhatra League has been found.
Regarding the allegation, Chhatra Shakti Organizing Secretary Saifullah told Times of Bangladesh, “We were eating at BUET. Pavel was sitting there with 5-6 people having sehri. Then Hasib went and asked him, ‘You are boycotted from the hall, why have you come here?’ A scuffle broke out between them over this.”
When asked about the multiple rounds of beating Pavel, he said, “I didn’t beat him. I only made a post on Facebook. In that, I said that he should be handed over to the police.”
He further said, “You can check BUET’s CCTV footage if you want. I was sitting eating. Hasib and others took him away. He must have been beaten on the road, otherwise his condition wouldn’t be like this.”
This Chhatra Shakti leader could not provide any evidence that the victim, Pavel, was involved with Chhatra League. He alleged that Pavel had attacked students during the July uprising. However, Saifullah could not provide any proof for that allegation either.
Later, he sent TIMES of Bangladesh a list titled “Students who cannot stay in the hall” containing Pavel’s name. Saifullah said, “This is the list of students who boycotted him from the hall after July.”
When asked about Chhatra Shakti’s position on the beating incident, he said, “I didn’t beat him here. Hasib was part of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. And Shuvro hasn’t yet received any post in our committee.”
Attempts to contact Anti-discrimination Student Movement leader Hasib Al Islam for comment on the allegation were unsuccessful as his phone was not reachable.
Regarding the incident, Shahbagh Police Station Investigation Inspector Asaduzzaman said, “Today during Sehri time, Chhatra Shakti leaders and activists handed him over to the police. He is currently in our custody. He is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College as his physical condition is poor. Let him recover first, then we will decide what to do about him.”
When asked whether the university administration would take any action regarding this incident, Proctor and Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said, “We have received no complaint regarding this. However, after learning of this incident, I requested Shahbagh Thana to provide the student with medical treatment. He is receiving medical treatment now. We are keeping in touch with him. If a complaint is filed regarding the matter, action will certainly be taken.”
