Following the stabbing death of Shahriar Alam Shammo, 25, a leader of the BNP's student wing Chhatra Dal at the University of Dhaka (DU), Chhatra Dal, Gonotantrik Chhatra Jot, and general students arranged protests demanding the justice for murder cases in DU, and resignation of the vice-chancellor (VC), the proctor and the home adviser of the interim government.
DU and relevant authorities have announced that they will take immediate measures to stop these incidents from happening after a meeting among Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, Dhaka University's vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor, the chief engineer of the public works department, the secretary of the public works ministry, the additional commissioner of DMP, and other relevant officials.
They discussed how the government could support the situation and carefully consider the students' demands to find solutions.
Additionally, Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal has announced that they will arrange a sit-in protest in front of the DU VC's residence, wearing black badges. Every unit of JCD will follow this program.
Around midnight on Tuesday, perpetrators attacked Shammo with weapons following an argument that broke out between two parties over a motorcycle collision in Suhrawardy Udyan.
He was severely injured in the attack. Later, when his classmates took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the attending doctor declared him dead.
Following the incident, the DU campus was in turmoil throughout Wednesday with protests demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellor and proctor, calling for a safe campus, and seeking justice for the murder.
Protests in DU
Student organization leaders and activists, along with general students under the banner of “Students Against Terrorism,” arranged a torch procession demanding justice for the Shammo and Tofazzal murder cases, and the resignation of DU VC and proctor.
The Students Against Terrorism platform comprised Chhatra Dal and leftist student organizations, Gonotantrik Chhatra Jot, and general students.
Chhatra Dal marched from the Hall Para area of DU and came to Raju Memorial Sculpture around 8pm, and the leftist coalition Gonotantrik Chhatra Jot joined them from TSC. Later, the procession gathered in front of VC's residence around 8:50pm on Wednesday.
Protesters alleged the current DU administration of several incidents including the Tofazzal murder case, the removal of Hasina's image from Metro Rail pillars, attacks on leftist student leaders, and Tuesday's Shammo murder case, among many others.
"The university administration has failed to ensure justice for these incidents. If they do not resign voluntarily, we will be forced to compel their resignation," said one of the organizers of the protest and office secretary of Bijoy Ekattor Hall Chhatra Dal to Dhaka Tribune.
Members of Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a protest march earlier on Wednesday and held a rally in front of the Dhaka University vice-chancellor’s residence later.
The protest march began around 2:30pm at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture. From there, the activists marched around the Faculty of Arts building and later gathered in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence, demanding justice and the resignation of top university officials.
Nasir Uddin Nasir, general secretary of the JCD Central Committee, said that the vice-chancellor cannot avoid responsibility for this murder, citing murder incidents after the August uprising prove his utter failure.
"We demand the resignation of both the proctor and the VC. We also urge the resignation of the home affairs adviser, as a private university student named Parvez was also recently stabbed to death in a similar manner.”
Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahos, president of DU Chhatra Dal, said: “The administration formed after August 5 has failed to ensure a student-friendly environment. We suspect Shammo was killed using a mentally unstable person from inside Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall.”
He added: “Images of students throwing shoes at anti-fascist graffiti at TSC have been wiped out. Multiple incidents, including the attack on a university bus and the fire on Pohela Boishakh, have left students traumatized.”
After the gathering, Shammo's funeral prayer was held at the university's central mosque following the Zuhr prayer at noon. Afterwards, his body was taken to his home in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district for burial.
Police have already arrested three people in connection with Shammo's murder case.
The arrestees are Md Tamim Haolader, 30, son of Ershad Haolader from Madaripur Sadar, Palash Sardar, 30, son of Kalam Sardar, and Samrat Mallick, 28, son of Jatindranath Mallick from Dasar police station area.
They were arrested from Rajabazar and several other areas of the capital late Tuesday night.
Administration decision
Following the murder of Shahriar Alam Shammo, a student of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University, the TSC-adjacent gate of Suhrawardy Udyan is to be permanently closed.
The decision was made during a meeting held on Wednesday at Dhaka University’s Senate Building. The meeting was attended by Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, youth and sports adviser to the interim government, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, university administrators, the public works secretary, and representatives from other relevant bodies.
The meeting revealed that illegal shops will be permanently evicted. A monitoring committee will be formed for the park area, with adequate lighting installed to eliminate dark spots. CCTV cameras will also be installed.
The DMP will establish a dedicated police box just for Suhrawardy Udyan, and regular raids will begin from Thursday with assistance from the Department of Narcotics Control. Initiatives will be taken to transform the park into a well-planned space similar to Ramna Park.
Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said that he has known Shammo for about a year, since he was a first-year.
He further said that Shammo always took a stand against injustice. For years, he pointed out the drug trade, mismanagement, and criminal networks operating around Suhrawardy Udyan and showed us what needed to be done.
"Suhrawardy Udyan is jointly managed by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Public Works. It's also used for political gatherings,” said Asif.
“The reality is that many criminal activities centered around Dhaka University have been operating from this park—we've witnessed gang activity, drug-related issues, and various crimes," he added.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Niaz Ahmed Khan said that the university administration has been working to strengthen security measures since his first week in office.
He added that although Suhrawardy Udyan isn't directly under Dhaka University's jurisdiction but rather under the Ministry of Public Works and Dhaka South City Corporation, they remain involved in park management through coordination with these institutions.
He mentioned that after implementing measures to control outside traffic, they had to scale back when stakeholders claimed it infringed on personal freedom.
He further added anti-drug operations have been conducted several times with help from the Department of Narcotics Control. At least five raids have taken place in recent months, but the desired results weren't achieved due to gaps between operations.
The vice-chancellor again said that no leniency would be shown to anyone involved in criminal activities, even if they are university students. A supervisory committee led by the Ministry of Public Works will soon be formed to develop Suhrawardy Udyan similar to Ramna Park.
“The committee will include representatives from DMP, Dhaka University, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, Department of Narcotics Control, Kali Temple authorities, and Bangla Academy,” he added.
The vice-chancellor also noted that the Ministry of Public Works has begun field inspections starting on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Thursday has been declared a day of mourning for the death of Shahriar Alam Shammo, a student of the Institute of Education and Research at the university, following the incident at Suhrawardy Udyan. Classes and examinations will remain suspended until 1pm in observance.
Khalid Mansur, officer in charge of Shahbag police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that an operation against drug use and sales would be conducted every day.
"After filing a case regarding yesterday's (Tuesday) incident, we have detained three people. We are investigating whether anyone else was involved with them," he added.
Investigation committee formation and day of mourning
The university administration has formed a 7-member investigation committee with Professor Dr Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, dean of the Faculty of Arts, as convener to investigate Shammo's death.
The committee has been asked to submit a report within three working days.
Other committee members include Professor Dr Mohammad Ekramul Haq, dean of the Faculty of Law; Professor Dr Taiabur Rahman, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Professor Dr Md Serajul Islam, provost of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall; and Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam Sarker of the Department of Persian Language and Literature.
Assistant Proctor Sharmin Kabir will serve as the member-secretary, while Deputy Registrar (Investigation) Sheikh Ayub Ali will perform secretarial duties.
July Unity and Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council submit memorandum
The Dhaka University branch of Bangladesh Democratic Students' Council submitted a memorandum to the university vice-chancellor, proctor, and secretary of the Ministry of Public Works with seven-point demands aimed at ensuring a safe campus for students and dismantling the drug sanctuary in the park.
Their demands included stopping drug dealers in Suhrawardy Udyan, evicting illegal shops, closing the gate adjacent to TSC, and removing loiterers from campus.
July Unity also went to Shahbagh police station on Thursday afternoon to submit a memorandum to the inspector general of police with three-point demands, including justice for Shammo's murder, and held a protest rally.
