Activists of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, the student wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), have been accused of assaulting a Dhaka University student on suspicion of his link with Chhatra League, before handing him over to police.
The incident occurred early Monday during sehri. The victim, Rahid Khan Pavel, a Philosophy student enrolled in 2020–21, said around 20–25 people beat him for over two hours at multiple locations, including Kazi Nazrul Islam Hall, Palashi, and the VC’s premises, before he was taken to Shahbagh Police Station.
“They called me a Chhatra League member. I have never been part of any organization and hold no position in any group,” Pavel said.
Those accused include Saifullah, a leader of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti’s Dhaka University chapter; Hasib Al Islam, a leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement; Sardar Nadim Mohammad Shuvo; Mohammad Mohiuddin; Abrar; and others. Attempts to reach Saifullah and Hasib Al Islam were unsuccessful.
Responding to the allegations, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti's organizational secretary Saifullah said: "We were eating at Buet. Pavel was there too, having sehri with five or six others. Hasib went up to him and asked, 'You've been boycotted from the hall — what are you doing here?' That's when things got physical between them."
When asked about Pavel being beaten multiple times, he said: "I didn't hit him. All I did was put up a Facebook post saying he should be handed over to the police."
He added: "You're welcome to check the CCTV footage from Buet. I was sitting there eating. Hasib and the others took him away. He was clearly beaten on the street — there's no other explanation for the state he ended up in."
Saifullah was unable to produce any evidence linking Pavel to Chhatra League. He alleged that Pavel had attacked students during the July uprising, but again could offer no proof to back the claim. He later sent this reporter a list titled 'Students Who Cannot Stay in the Hall,' with Pavel's name on it, saying, 'This is the list of students that ordinary students boycotted from the hall after July.'
When asked about Chhatra Shakti's stance on the beating, he said: "I wasn't the one who hit him. Hasib is with the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. And Shuvo hasn't even been given any position in our committee yet."
Shahbagh Police Station investigation officer Asaduzzaman confirmed Pavel is in police custody and receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital due to his poor physical condition.
Assistant Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said no formal complaint has been filed yet but added he ensured Pavel received medical attention. He said the university will take necessary action if a complaint is lodged.
