A group of activists from Chatradal blocked the Shahbag intersection today, demanding the immediate arrest of the “real culprits” behind the murder of Dhaka University (DU) student and Chhatra Dal leader Shahriar Alam Shammo. All traffic was halted through the intersection due to the blockade.
Earlier, protesters had besieged the Shahbagh Police Station.
Chanting slogans and carrying placards bearing Shammo’s image, demonstrators accused police of delaying justice and protecting the actual perpetrators.
The protest followed the expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum issued during a previous demonstration on Thursday, during which protesters had surrounded the police station for nearly an hour and a half, demanding visible progress in the investigation.
The murder took place late on the night of 13 May. Around 11pm, Shammo was riding his motorcycle through Suhrawardy Udyan when a minor collision with another motorcycle led to a heated argument.
According to eyewitnesses, the dispute quickly escalated, and Shammo was fatally stabbed by a group of attackers. He was found critically injured around midnight and rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Shammo was a Master’s student at the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University. He also served as the publicity secretary of the Sir AF Rahman Hall unit of Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He hailed from Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj.
In the aftermath of the incident, police launched a series of drives across the city and arrested three suspects—Tamim Hawlader (30), Palash Sardar (30), and Samrat Mallick (28)—on 14 May. The trio was initially sent to jail the same day under court orders.
On Saturday, investigating officer Taufiq Hasan presented the suspects before the court and sought a 10-day remand for further interrogation. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shahin Reza approved a six-day remand.
Notably, no defence lawyers were present to represent the accused during the hearing, according to Jinnat Ali, general registration officer at Shahbagh Police Station.
Shammo’s murder has triggered widespread outrage among DU students and political groups, particularly Chhatra Dal, which has organised protests and human chains across campus demanding justice and a transparent investigation.
Leaders of the organisation claim that the murder may have had political motivations, suggesting it was a targeted attack rather than a spontaneous altercation.
However, police have so far maintained that the incident appears to have stemmed from a spontaneous dispute.
The investigation team is reportedly exploring multiple angles, including the nature of the stabbing, possible prior animosity, and any political affiliations of those involved.
Law enforcement authorities have stated that information gathered during the remand will be critical in determining the motive behind the murder.
Meanwhile, the Dhaka University administration has expressed concern over the incident and assured the public that they are coordinating with police to ensure greater safety for students on campus.