A clash broke out near Shahbagh Police Station over the playing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's historic March 7th speech.
Among those present were Dhaka University students, leaders of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, and officials of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu).
During the incident, a person identified as a Chhatra League member was beaten by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti activists. The victim, Al Mamun, is a student from DU's 2020-21 academic session and joint secretary of the Chhatra League unit at Shahid Sergeant Zahrul Haq Hall.
Earlier, police detained a former DU student and a Chhatra League functionary at Chankharpul intersection for playing the March 7th speech. In response, Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi — who had contested the VP seat in the 2025 Ducsu elections — announced on Facebook that she would play the speech in front of Shahbagh Police Station.
By around 9:30pm, a group of DU students and activists from Chhatra Union joined the event.
At one point, a group of people approached from the direction of Shahbagh Police Station and demanded the speech be stopped, sparking a heated argument. Shortly after, another group arrived and attempted to intervene, leading to a physical altercation. When asked about their identity, those opposing the event introduced themselves simply as "ordinary people."
This group was seen emerging from near the police station and was later observed entering the premises.
Following the incident, organizer Emi stated that several of her group had been injured, adding: "This unprovoked, one-sided attack is utterly condemnable. Their insecurity only proves we're on the right side of history."
Chhatra Union (one faction) general secretary Maeen Ahmed, who was present at the scene, said that no one in Bangladesh — except Jamaat — has any issue with the Liberation War, and that Jamaat's influence has seeped into every student organisation, including Chhatra Dal and Chhatra League.
"Except for these children of razakars, nobody opposes the key events of our Liberation War," he added.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Ramna Zone DC Masud Alam told Dhaka Tribune: "Bringing a microphone here during Taraweeh prayers and blasting it — that's entirely deliberate. It's an attempt to incite a mob."
At around 10:15pm, leaders and activists of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti's DU chapter arrived and rallied against the playing of the speech. The convener of the chapter, Tahmid Al Mudassir Chowdhury, clarified that the person detained in the afternoon was not arrested for playing the March 7th speech, but because of his ties to "the banned organization Chhatra League."
"Those who are trying to rehabilitate this Chhatra League member under the cover of the Liberation War and March 7th must be held accountable," he said.
Ducsu leaders including literature and cultural secretary Mosaddeq Ibn Ali Mohammad and social welfare secretary AB Zubayer also arrived and took a stance against the playing of the speech.
Around 10:30pm, a group led by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti and the two Ducsu secretaries approached Imi and escorted her — along with her rickshaw — into Shahbagh Police Station. Footage circulated in the media showed Mosaddeq physically pedalling the rickshaw into the station premises.
Shortly after, at around 10:45pm, Al Mamun was accused of being a Chhatra League member and assaulted by Jatiya Chhatra Shakti activists and other protesters present.
At one point, Al Mamun was first dragged out of the police station, then pulled back inside. Throughout the ordeal, Emi attempted to shield him, while someone grabbed her by the hair from behind. Eventually, both Emi and Al Mamun were handed over to Shahbagh Police Station.
It was later confirmed that Al Mamun is the joint secretary of the Chhatra League unit at Shahid Sergeant Zahrul Haq Hall.
After the incident, Emi wrote on Facebook: "Al Mamun was attacked under the leadership of Zubayer and Mosaddeq. They laid hands on me too. As long as I live, you won't be able to hold me down."
When asked about the former DU student detained earlier at Chankharpul — identified as the employment secretary of Shahidullah Hall's Chhatra League unit — DC Masud told Dhaka Tribune: "Since he holds a position in Chhatra League, which is a banned organization, and given the controversial role he allegedly played during the July movement — based on what we've heard and certain links we've come across — we will take legal action accordingly."