The Dhaka University fact-finding committee has identified the alleged involvement of 122 DU students in the violence that took place on campus between July 15 and August 5.
The probe report was handed over to the university vice-chancellor by the fact-finding committee today and will be presented at the next syndicate meeting for further action by the university authorities.
As a university, Dhaka University cannot directly file a criminal case. However, the authorities will take institutional measures against the perpetrators, told Quazi Mahfujul Hoque Supan, convener of the fact-finding committee, who is an associate professor in Dhaka University's Department of Law.
The probe committee has also found the involvement of many former students, who were identified as the most brutal attackers. Regarding these individuals, the university authorities could consider canceling their academic certificates in cases of serious offenses.
However, the committee mentioned that an opportunity of self-defense would be provided to the identified attackers after publishing the probe report.
Additionally, the committee identified several attackers from outside the campus. The DU authorities will collaborate with their respective institutions to take necessary measures, according to the convener of the committee.
The fact-finding committee’s convener stated that the violence involving students has been categorized into three types: attacks on female students, attacks on the injured at the Dhaka Medical College Emergency Department, and attacks on general students.
The committee conducted its investigation by analyzing video evidence collected from general students, national and international media, and campus portals. "We used several digital fact-checking tools while scrutinizing the video evidence to ensure that no innocent individuals fall victim to wrongful accusations," the convener said.
He further mentioned that the collected evidence indicates the violence was not a mere clash between student groups but a premeditated attack.
A press release issued by the probe committee said: “The most notorious aspects of the attacks on July 15, 2024, were the assault on female students, the attack on injured students on their way to the emergency department of Dhaka University Medical Center and Dhaka Medical College, as well as the attack on the injured inside the emergency department, obstructing their treatment.”
While speaking to journalists, committee members revealed that they could not obtain any footage from the university’s CCTV cameras, as all hard drives were found missing.
In response to a question, the committee convener stated that there could have been incidents of sexual harassment and abuse of female students inside buses when the perpetrators attacked those who had taken shelter there. However, no concrete evidence was found to confirm this. Nevertheless, the report does document incidents of molestation against female students.
After receiving the fact-finding report, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan said: “The attack on DU students during the mass upsurge was a heinous incident, not only in the history of the university but in the history of the entire country.”
He added that the fact-finding committee strived to prepare the report following scientific standards of evidence while maintaining judicial impartiality.
The Dhaka University authorities formed the fact-finding committee on October 8, 2024, to investigate the alleged attacks on students by Chhatra League. The committee was initially tasked with submitting its report within 45 days, starting from November 15, 2024.
