The administration of Bijoy Ekattor Hall at Dhaka University has launched an investigation into allegations that a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader was assaulted and threatened by a student suspected of supporting Islami Chhatra Shibir.
The incident, reportedly stemming from a dispute over use of a washroom, occurred around midnight Sunday near the hall’s guestroom.
In response to conflicting accounts from both parties, the hall authorities have formed a probe committee to uncover the “actual facts”.
The complainant, Ahmed Shahriar, is a student of the 2023-24 academic session and a member of the JCD hall unit’s convening committee.
According to his complaint, he attempted to use the washroom adjacent to the guestroom as other facilities were locked. He alleged that Abdullah Al Mahfuz, a student of the Bangla Department (2020-21 session), barred his entry and verbally abused him.
“When I tried to explain the situation, he pushed me against the wall, beat me, and threatened to take me to the ‘guestroom’,” Shahriar told TIMES of Bangladesh.
However, Mahfuz, who is known on campus as a Shibir supporter, denied the allegations of assault, describing it as a mere “scuffle and heated argument”. He claimed several female guests, who had come to watch a football match, were using the washroom with the gatekeeper’s permission.
“I asked Shahriar to wait for a while for security reasons, but he tried to force his way in,” Mahfuz said, adding that he has since faced attempted attacks in his room and murder threats on social media.
A female student, speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated Mahfuz’s version, saying that a student had tried to enter the washroom while they were inside despite being asked to wait. She expressed willingness to testify before the probe committee to clear up “misleading information” being spread on social media.
Conversely, another student named Rashed posted in the hall’s internal Facebook group that he overheard Mahfuz shouting and threatening Shahriar.
While Mahfuz is widely linked to Shibir, he has denied any formal involvement. Md Miftahul Hossain, the Media and Publicity Secretary of Dhaka University Shibir, clarified that while Mahfuz supported their panel in the DUCSU elections, he holds no organisational position within the party.
Professor SM Ali Reza, provost of Bijoy Ekattor Hall, said, “We have received contradictory statements from both sides. The committee has been asked to submit its report within the next four to five working days,” he said.
The provost also said preliminary CCTV footage has been reviewed, but the situation remains unclear as the footage lacks audio and some of the incident took place inside the washroom area. Administrative action will be taken based on the findings of the final report.
