Dhaka University Hall Leader’s Room Controversy Sparks Investigation

A controversy has erupted at the University of Dhaka after allegations surfaced that two outsiders were involved in an alleged sexual act in the room of Ibrahim Khalil, assistant general secretary (AGS) of the Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall Students’ Union.

The controversy intensified after a video purportedly recording the incident was circulated on social media on Saturday evening. In response, the hall administration temporarily cancelled Khalil’s residential seat and said the allegations would be investigated before any final decision is taken.

The incident reportedly took place on 27 July. According to claims made by Khalil’s roommate and hall resident Anoy Chowdhury in a social media post, the two visitors had been staying in Khalil’s room. They were later allegedly found in an intimate situation. Students who were present reportedly recorded their statements and an admission from the two men, although the full footage was not made public because of the sensitive nature of the matter. The identities of witnesses were also reportedly kept confidential for security reasons.

The video circulating online reportedly shows the two men apologising and asking that the footage not be made public. The allegations have since generated considerable discussion among students, with the incident becoming a subject of controversy on the university campus.

Khalil has denied having prior knowledge of what allegedly occurred in his room. In a statement posted on Facebook amid growing criticism, he said he had allowed acquaintances who had come to Dhaka for medical treatment to stay in the room on humanitarian grounds. He claimed he was not present when the alleged incident occurred and that nobody informed him about it afterwards.

Khalil condemned the alleged conduct and said he was prepared to co-operate fully with any legal action against those responsible.

When contacted about the allegations, Khalil provided an audio recording of a telephone conversation, which he described as supporting evidence relevant to the matter. In the recording, one of the guests can reportedly be heard saying that they had been led into the alleged act by what he described as a “temptation of Satan”, but that they could not complete it after Khalil’s roommate allegedly discovered them. The recording also reportedly contains a conversation in which Khalil expressed an intention to speak to the guest’s family about the matter.

The allegations have not yet been conclusively established, and the hall authorities have said that the facts will be determined through an investigation.

Khalil won the post of AGS of Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall in the 2025 Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) and hall council elections as a candidate backed by Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. The president of the Dhaka University unit of the organisation, Muha. Mohiuddin Khan, has also identified him as an active member of the group.

Dr Md Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, provost of Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall, confirmed that Khalil’s residential seat had been temporarily cancelled in view of the situation. He said an investigation committee would examine the allegations and verify the facts before the administration takes a final decision.

The hall council has also sought an explanation from the AGS. General Secretary Toukir Hasan said Khalil and his roommate’s accounts would be assessed before the council decides on any further action.

The controversy has also triggered protests among some students. On Saturday night, at around 10.15pm, a group of students gathered near the hall pond and staged a procession and demonstration in protest against the incident.

The administration’s decision to launch an investigation means the matter is now likely to be assessed through formal institutional procedures. Until the inquiry is completed, the allegations remain unproven, while the temporary cancellation of the residential seat signals the seriousness with which the hall authorities are treating the controversy.