DU student alleges assault by Chhatra Shakti activists on campus

Published : Monday, 9 March, 2026 at 3:23 PM Count : 8

A Dhaka University student has alleged that activists of student organisation Jatiya Chhatra Shakti picked him up and beat him for several hours after labelling him a “Chhatra League member” while he was out for sehri earlier today.

Rahid Khan Pavel, a Philosophy Department student from the 2020-21 academic session, said he was later left seriously injured in front of Shahbagh Police Station, and his mobile phone, bike key and wallet were taken during the assault.

While lying injured near the police station, Pavel, a resident of Bir Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, told journalists that he had gone to Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) to have sehri.

He alleged that some DU students by the name of Hasib, Shuvo, Saifullah and Abrar, along with around 20–25 others, beat him for nearly two to two and a half hours without any reason.

“They hit me on the head with bricks, stabbed my hands and body with a bike disc lock, pressed on my legs from the toes and beat me with belts,” he reported.

Then, Pavel said, he was taken different places on DU campus and beat him up.

“When they started beating me inside the police station premises, the law enforcers intervened and saved me,” he added.

Pavel denied having any political affiliation, saying he is a regular student who attends classes at the philosophy department.

However, Md Saifullah, social welfare secretary of the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall student body and organisational secretary of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s Dhaka University unit, offered a different account.

He claimed Pavel had been involved in attacks during the July movement and had been boycotted by both his department and hall.

Saifullah said students recently received information that Pavel had put up Bangladesh Chhatra League’s posters on campus and had been organising iftar gatherings with former activists of the now-banned organisation.

“When we caught him and want to check his phone, he refused and reacted aggressively. Students then caught him and handed him over to the police,” Saifullah said.

Sub-Inspector Asad Ul Islam, duty officer at Shahbagh Police Station, said Pavel has been kept in custody. However, he did not confirm whether any case has been filed against him.

Contacted, Dhaka University proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said he learned of the incident and spoke to police. He added that Pavel was being sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for treatment.

Asked about Pavel’s alleged BCL affiliation, the proctor said his name did not appear among the 403 leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League show-caused by the university for their alleged involvement in attacks on protesting students during the July uprising between July 15 and August 5, 2024.

FP/MI