DHAKA — Violent clashes broke out at Dhaka University’s Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall on Sunday afternoon, as activists from Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and Islami Chhatra Shibir engaged in physical altercations during an official hall administration probe into allegations of inappropriate conduct within a residential room.
The conflict originated from an incident on Saturday inside the room assigned to Ibrahim Khalil, the Assistant General Secretary (AGS) of the Shahidullah Hall Union. Video recordings went viral across social media depicting two guests in his room apologising for engaging in alleged homosexual acts and promising not to repeat the behaviour. Following public outrage, the hall administration initiated a formal enquiry on Sunday afternoon, summoning AGS Ibrahim Khalil and his roommate to testify before the investigation committee.
Witnesses reported that while the enquiry was underway in the Provost’s office, a group of JCD-aligned students staged a demonstration outside before forcing their way into the office. Scuffles erupted inside the hall administration building between JCD and Shibir activists, resulting in minor injuries on both sides.
JCD hall unit Convener Mosaddeq Al Haq Shanto alleged that Shibir activists were attempting to shield the AGS, claiming that CCTV footage from the previous day had been erased to conceal Khalil’s whereabouts. He asserted that Shibir members launched an unprovoked attack on JCD activists during the probe. Conversely, Hall Union General Secretary Toukir Hasan stated that JCD members forcibly entered the office, physically assaulted a student for taking photographs, and repeatedly disrupted the proceedings despite the presence of house tutors.
Addressing the core allegation, AGS Ibrahim Khalil maintained that he was away from campus visiting Mawa with friends when the incident allegedly took place. He clarified that he had merely allowed his maternal cousin and an accompanying guest to rest in his room while visiting Dhaka for medical care, adding that he intends to pursue legal action against those involved.
Following the violent outbreak, conflicting reports emerged regarding the administrative leadership of the residential facility. While representatives from both student groups claimed that Hall Provost Professor Md. Aminul Islam Bhuiyan had tendered his resignation, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan officially denied these assertions, confirming the Provost remains in his post.
In response to the afternoon clash, Dhaka University’s Shibir unit staged a protest procession on Sunday evening, marching across campus before culminating in a rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture. Addressing the gathering, DU Shibir President Mu. Mohiuddin Khan condemned the repeated disruptions aimed at the hall union leadership and urged the central university administration to act with greater accountability. University Proctor Professor Dr Israfil Ratan confirmed that proctorial teams mediated between the factions to restore order, confirming that a separate inquiry is underway to investigate the physical altercations.
