The authorities of Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall at the University of Dhaka have temporarily cancelled the residential seat of Hall Students' Union Assistant General Secretary (AGS) Ibrahim Shikder on Saturday following a viral video that triggered protests on campus.
On Sunday afternoon, an altercation erupted over this matter at the provost's office of Shahidullah Hall between Chhatra Dal and Shibir.
Shikder is an activist of the Dhaka University unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, according to the organisation's DU unit President Mohammad Mohiuddin Khan.
The controversy erupted after a video, recorded inside Room 311 of the hall's main building, was circulated on social media on Saturday. The footage shows two male visitors in Ibrahim Khalil’s room being confronted by another resident, who accused them of engaging in homosexual activity. The two individuals are also seen apologising in the video.
Although the footage was recorded on July 27, it spread widely on social media on Saturday, prompting strong reactions from students.
Around 10pm on Saturday, a group of Shahidullah Hall students brought out a protest procession on the campus over the incident.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Shahidullah Hall Provost Dr Md Aminul Islam Bhuiyan said the hall administration had initiated an investigation.
"We need to investigate the incident in detail. Ibrahim Shikder has acknowledged the matter. We have temporarily cancelled his residential seat and instructed him not to stay in the hall. Further action will be taken after a proper investigation," he said.
Following widespread criticism on social media, Ibrahim addressed the issue in a post in a Facebook group run by Dhaka University students, where he acknowledged the incident but denied prior knowledge of what had happened.
"I sincerely apologise. A reprehensible act took place in my room, about which I had absolutely no prior knowledge. My mother's cousin, who studies at Noakhali Madania Madrasa, came to stay at my room as he had to see a doctor in PG hospital. But he came with another boy," he wrote.
He told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that this incident is “politically motivated” and he will call a press conference with his visitors to clear the issue.
