Arif Hossain Shanto, a Chhatra Dal activist and a student of the Bangla department at Barisal University (BU), is facing allegations of assaulting and injuring Zakir Hossain, a 23-year-old classmate from the same department, for giving a "haha" reaction to a Facebook post of his.
The incident occurred in front of the traffic police box adjacent to the university at around 11pm on Monday.
Afterwards, their classmates intervened, rescuing the injured student and admitting him to Barisal's Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH).
Reza Sharif, the president of the BU branch of Chhatra Dal, said: "Arif Hossain Shanto is a member of Chhatra Dal. We will investigate and take action against him for beating up his classmate due to his reaction to a Facebook post."
Muhammad Gholam Rabbani, a classmate of the injured student, recounted the incident saying: "Zakir and I came to the market on Bhola Road around 11pm. Zakir was away from me at that time. Suddenly, Shanto appeared on the spot and began assaulting Zakir, punching him in the left eye initially and later kicking and punching him.”
"We went there and tried to stop the assault. Then Zakir was first taken to the emergency department of Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Later, he was transferred to the eye department of the hospital and is undergoing treatment there,” Rabbani said.
The victim, Zakir Hossain, said: “I had reacted to a photo of Arif Hossain Shanto. Then Arif abused me on Messenger over that and later asked where I was. In reply, I said I am now on the Barisal-Bhola highway near BU.”
“Upon hearing this, Arif went there and punched me in the eye. I fell to the ground immediately after the punch, and then Arif punched me in the chest,” Zakir added.
Arif Hossain, denying the allegations, said: "Zakir called me at the Bhola intersection and hit me, so I also beat him up in self-defence.”
Pushpa Rani Majumdar, assistant professor at the Bangla department and student advisor of the university, said: "I have heard about the assault. Such incidents are not acceptable. I will talk to both of them.”
BU Proctor Dr Abdul Qayyum said: "At night, a student of the Bangla department wanted ambulance service, so we arranged for an ambulance. I do not know if the incident happened over a Facebook reaction or not. However, if I receive a complaint, I will take action subject to investigation.”
