Student Abducted and Tortured near Brickfield by Campus Political Leader

An investigation has been launched at Chittagong University after a first-year student was allegedly abducted, interrogated, and physically beaten by a senior student political leader. The victim, Mohammad Rayhan, who studies in the management department, submitted a formal written grievance to the university proctor detailing his ordeal. The alleged assault took place at approximately 12:30 pm on Thursday, 9 July, within an isolated brick kiln area known locally as the ‘Brickfield’, situated just outside the university perimeter.

The complaint names Al Mamun, the sports secretary for the university branch of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, as the primary aggressor. According to the victim, Mamun and a group of five to six associates cornered him while he was sitting at the campus’s central sports field. Under the guise of a routine identity check, the group forced Rayhan to accompany them away from the campus grounds towards the brickfield, where he was subjected to aggressive questioning, physical violence, and severe psychological coercion.

Tensions between the involved parties trace back to a late-June dispute. On 29 June, an altercation erupted between the Brahmanbaria Student Association and Mamun’s political faction during a public screening of a football match between Brazil and Japan, which quickly descended into open conflict. Mamun reportedly harboured suspicions that Rayhan was involved in that clash. Upon reaching the brickfield, the group confiscated Rayhan’s mobile phone, combing through his private messages and media in an attempt to link him to the previous brawl. When this proved unsuccessful, the group allegedly resorted to physical battery and forced video confessions.

Rayhan detailed the threats made during his captivity, highlighting the level of intimidation he faced. Before arriving at the kiln, the group stopped near the university sluice gate, where Mamun made a phone call to a political figure referred to as ‘Habib Bhai’ to demonstrate his local influence. Once at the brickfield, the violence intensified.

The attackers demanded to know the ringleaders of the 29 June clash, repeatedly slapping Rayhan across the face. Panicked by a direct threat from Mamun—who allegedly stated that they could bury him on-site without anyone ever discovering his body—Rayhan fabricated a name, implicating another student called Fahim to appease his captors. The group also threatened to orchestrate his permanent academic expulsion before finally letting him return to campus.

Confronted with the allegations, Al Mamun denied all accusations of violence, offering a conflicting account. He asserted that he had been assaulted by a rival student group at the university railway station on 30 June, and claimed Rayhan was present during that attack. Mamun admitted to approaching Rayhan at the central playground on Thursday to ask about the station incident, but maintained that no physical violence, forced video recordings, or death threats took place, dismissing the complaint as a complete fabrication.

The university administration has vowed to handle the matter with the utmost seriousness. Proctor Dr Hossain Shahid Sarwarwardi confirmed that his office has received the formal complaint and is conducting a thorough review of the incident. He summoned Rayhan for an evening meeting to verify the facts and evaluate any ongoing security risks to the student. The incident has renewed scrutiny on student politics and safety protocols across public university campuses.