A clash broke out at Dhaka University on Saturday night after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic 7th March speech was played.
Students of Dhaka University, along with members of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), were present at the scene.
The incident began in the afternoon when police detained a former DU student near Chankharpul intersection in Dhaka, accusing him of playing the 7th March speech on a sound system.
Masud Alam, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Zone, told Times of Bangladesh that the detainee was a leader of the banned Chhatra League and had a “controversial role” in the July uprising. “We will take action according to the law,” he said.
In protest, DU students gathered in front of Shahbagh Police Station around 9:35pm and began playing the speech using a microphone mounted on a rickshaw. Arguments broke out when individuals tried to stop the broadcast, and a group identifying themselves as “general people” disrupted the program, leading to scuffles.
The microphone was vandalized, and attackers carried its battery inside the police station. Journalists inside also reported being assaulted. Eyewitnesses said the attackers came from in front of the station and later entered it.
Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi, who contested the Ducsu VP race last year, condemned the attack. Moin Ahmed, General Secretary of a faction of Ducsu, said, “In Bangladesh, apart from Jamaat-e-Islami, no one disputes the Liberation War. Whether Chhatra Dal or Chhatra League, these groups have infiltrated every organisation. Only the children of collaborators oppose important events related to the Liberation War.”
Police described the incident as “intentional.” DC Masud Alam said, “Bringing a microphone during Tarawee prayers and playing it here was completely purposeful. It was an attempt to create a mob.”
Later, leaders of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s DU unit arrived, chanting slogans against playing Bangabandhu’s speech. Their convener, Tahmid Al Mudassir Chowdhury, claimed the detainee was not arrested for playing the speech but for his links to the banned Chhatra League.
Ducsu leaders, including Cultural Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibne Mohammad and Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair, also opposed the playing of the historic speech.
Around 10:45pm, tensions escalated further. A DU student named Al Mamun (2020–21 session) was beaten by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti activists, accused of being linked to Chhatra League. Under the leadership of Zubair and Musaddiq, Emi was forcibly taken inside Shahbagh Police Station along with her rickshaw. Video footage shows Musaddiq pushing the rickshaw inside.
Al Mamun was also dragged inside after being beaten, while Emi tried to protect him. At one point, someone pulled Emi’s hair. Eventually, both Emi and Mamun were handed over to police.
Later, Emi wrote on Facebook, “Al Mamun was attacked under the leadership of Zubair and Musaddiq. They also laid hands on me. As long as I live, you won’t be able to silence me.”
