A water bottle was hurled at Information and Broadcasting Affairs Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Wednesday night while he was addressing protesting students of Jagannath University (JnU) at Kakrail intersection in the capital.
The incident occurred around 10pm when Adviser Mahfuj approached the demonstrators to speak about their ongoing three-point demand. As tensions rose among the crowd during his remarks, an unidentified individual threw a bottle aimed at his head. The adviser left the scene immediately following the incident.
Speaking to reporters a short distance from the protest site shortly afterward, Mahfuj Alam attributed the attack to a specific group, whom he accused of deliberately infiltrating movements to create unrest.
“There is a particular group that has harbored resentment towards an individual for the past eight months. Their aggression, which is evident online, manifested here today,” he said. “I won’t name them now, but it is the responsibility of the media and law enforcement to identify them and investigate their political affiliations.”
He added: “I only express my suspicions. It’s crucial for general students to distinguish saboteurs from among them. The government remains open to hearing legitimate demands.”
Later in the night, Shamsul Arefin, member secretary of Jagannath University’s Chhatra Dal unit, addressed the media on behalf of the student protesters. He expressed regret over the bottle-throwing incident but denied that it reflected the actions or intent of the university’s general students or faculty.
“We are sorry about what happened. However, we firmly believe that neither the students nor teachers of JnU are responsible,” Arefin said. He also criticized the information adviser’s earlier remarks, claiming they had added further confusion instead of resolving the matter.
“We’ve collectively decided that unless a clear and specific declaration is made, we will not leave this protest site. Should any unwanted incident occur, the Adviser and the current administration will bear full responsibility,” he asserted.
The incident has sparked strong reactions from leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), with several expressing concern and frustration over the treatment of government officials.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan shared his disappointment via a Facebook post.
“Although this issue does not fall under my official jurisdiction, I felt compelled to step in out of a sense of responsibility,” he wrote. “What happened to Mahfuj Bhai was deeply disappointing. He could have simply said: ‘This doesn’t concern my ministry,’ and walked away, but he chose engagement instead.”
He also highlighted the additional duties ministers are balancing and called for respectful and constructive dialogue during student movements.
As of midnight, the student sit-in at Kakrail continued, with demonstrators reiterating their commitment to press ahead until their demands are met.
