The Jagannath University student accused of throwing a bottle at Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam has been taken to the office of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for questioning.
The student was identified as Ishtiak hussain.
On Thursday, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman confirmed the development, saying: “Following interrogation, the student will be handed over to his guardian.”
Meanwhile, JnU students have warned of besieging the Detective Branch (DB) office if any action is taken against the the student accused in the bottle-throwing incident without a proper investigation.
They issued the warning on Friday, at the Kakrail intersection.
During the protest, the students chanted various slogans: “Amar bhaiyer kichu hole, DB office gherao hobe (If anything happens to my brother, the DB office will be surrounded)”; “Biplobe boliyan, nirbhik JaBian (Fearless JnUians, powered by revolution)”; and “Ek dui tin char, hall amar odhikar (One, two, three, four—Hall is my right).”
Shamsul Arifin, member secretary of the JnU unit of Chhatra Dal, said: “Our younger brother Ishtiak was taken by the DB under the pretext of questioning over the bottle incident.”
He added: “Let us be clear—if anything happens to him, we will surround the DB office. A proper investigation must take place.”
Anindya Roy, a student of the Department of Management Studies, said: “If any harm comes to him, we JnUians (students of JnU) will protest with full force.”
He added: “If the state responds to a thrown bottle with tear gas, bullets, and bloodshed, it would be a gross injustice.”
Teachers and students of Jagannath University have been staging demonstrations since Wednesday with a four-point demand.
On the same day, Adviser Mahfuj Alam arrived on campus to hold talks with the protesting students. During a moment of tension, one of the students threw a water bottle at him.
The accused student was detained by law enforcement personnel.
The university administration has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Protesters, however, say that although the incident was unfortunate, they will not accept any form of repression by the administration.
The students' four-point demand includes:
- Scholarships for 70% of JnU students starting from the 2025–26 fiscal year until proper housing is ensured.
- Approval of the full proposed budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year without cuts.
- Inclusion of the university's second campus construction in the next Ecnec meeting and its implementation under priority projects.
- Punishment for those involved in attacks on teachers and students.
