Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) library and cafeteria secretary Masum Billah was seriously injured in a sharp weapon attack by unidentified assailants, prompting a police case.
The incident occurred around 8pm on Monday in Hathazari upazila, Chittagong.
Masum sustained deep cuts above his eye, along with injuries to his hands and legs. His nephew, who was with him, was also assaulted.
Masum was initially treated at CU’s internal medical centre before being transferred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for advanced care.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers had been following Masum. They intercepted him on the road and launched a sudden attack, striking him with a knife and injuring him above the eye.
Cucsu executive member Md Sohanur Rahman Sohan said Masum had gone to buy motorcycle fuel in Hathazari when the assailants followed him.
Sohan suggested the attack was linked to Masum’s recent role in mediating a campus dispute following a road accident. Masum himself confirmed this on Facebook, stating the assault was retaliation for his involvement in the incident on 4 March.
On that day, an outsider, Md. Ariful Islam, riding a motorcycle at reckless speed on campus, injured anthropology department student Moniruzzaman Raj of the 2022–23 batch.
Masum had mediated a settlement, under which Raj’s medical expenses of 20,000 taka were covered. Ariful Islam’s father also signed an undertaking to pay any future medical costs and agreed to keep the motorcycle under the university security office until the student fully recovered.
Chattogram University (CU) Proctor Hossain Shaid Shohrowardhy said, “We are treating the matter seriously. A representative has visited Masum at the medical centre. A police case has been filed and efforts to arrest those involved are underway.”
Meanwhile, leaders and students of the cucsu held a human chain protest against the attack on Masum Billah. The protesters demanded the arrest of the attackers within 24 hours.
The human chain was organised on Tuesday at 12 noon in front of the university’s administrative building.
During the protest, students shouted slogans such as, “Masum Bhai’s blood is spilled, what is the administration doing? Why was my brother attacked? Administration, answer us. We need the criminals arrested now. Control outsiders on campus.”
They called for the immediate arrest of the assailants and for a campus free of outsiders.
Cucsu Joint Secretary Jannatul Adan Nusrat said, “This incident stems from 4 March. The university administration had assigned students to mediate a dispute, and Masum Billah played a role in the resolution. As a result, the attackers targeted him and carried out a brutal assault on Monday night.”
She added, “Why should students mediate such incidents? It is the administration’s responsibility.
The university has failed to ensure student safety. Even after a long time has passed since the incident, there has been no visible effort to arrest the criminals.”
