Published : 19 Sep 2026, 07:51 PM
Updated : 19 Sep 2026, 07:51 PM
A private university student in Khulna has allegedly been beaten to death by fellow hostel residents over an accusation of eating another student's rice.
The incident took place on Friday night at a four-storey student hostel on Islam Nagar Road, behind Khan Jahan Ali residential hall near Khulna University, said Khulna Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Humayoun Kabir.
The victim, 21-year-old Azmul Hossain, was from Chuadanga's Darshana. He was a first-semester student in the English department at North Western University, a private university in the city.
North Western University Vice-Chancellor Prof Kanai Lal Sarkar said Azmul had enrolled at the university on Sept 10, adding that the institution knew little about him otherwise.
He said the university had spoken to Azmul's parents, advised them to pursue legal action, and would extend all possible cooperation.
Harintana Police chief Md Iqbal Hossain said the incident was under investigation, adding that police would file a case themselves if Azmul's father chose not to.
Assistant Commissioner Kabir said, "We will take all possible legal action over the killing."
According to locals, the entire four-storey building functions as a student hostel, housing 50 to 60 students. Azmul had rented room D-8 on the fourth floor about a year ago.
The floor has eight rooms in total, with room D-2 occupied by the hostel's manager, Md Mehedi, a former student of Gopalganj University of Engineering and Technology.
Residents said they heard from hostel students that Azmul ate Mehedi's rice on Friday night.
Accused of stealing the food, he was then taken to the rooftop and beaten by Mehedi, several other hostel residents and some outsiders, they added.
Nearby residents heard something fall from the rooftop and later found Azmul lying in the alley.
Other students from the hostel took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital by ambulance, where doctors declared him dead.
Hospital officials said hostel students left the emergency department quickly after learning of his death.
A doctor at the hospital's emergency department said Azmul had injury marks across his body, with both legs broken.
Hostel cook Fatema, identified with a single name, said Azmul had previously been accused of stealing money and a laptop.
She said hostel students and outsiders beat him on Friday night over the rice accusation despite her objections.
A woman living in a building behind the hostel said she heard a loud noise around 12:45am Friday night.
Stepping outside, she found a boy lying in the alley outside her house, before hostel students took him to hospital.
Azmul's father, Kutub Uddin, said: "I have two sons. Azmul is my elder one. He came to Khulna from home a year ago for his studies. Azmul couldn't get admission to any university in 2025. He had enrolled at North Western University just 10 days ago and had gone home."
He said Azmul left home on Friday afternoon and reached Khulna around 5:30pm. His last conversation with his son over phone was around 9pm.
"He told me then 'I'm fine, don't worry about me’," the father said.
"After midnight, someone called from my son's phone. He said your son has caused trouble, bring one hundred thousand taka quickly if you want him back, or you won't get your son."
"I told him, we're poor people, where would we get one hundred thousand taka? He asked what I do for work. I told him I farm. He then told me to come quickly. I said I'll come by train right away,” he added.
The caller told him how he travelled was his concern.
“Then I arrived in the morning to find my son was no longer alive," Kutub said.
With his voice breaking, he added: "Who do I seek justice from? I won't seek justice from anyone. We're poor people. Our home is far away. I've left the judgment to Allah."
Khulna University Director of Student Affairs Md Salauddin said, "The incident occurred outside the university's boundary, so we have no direct jurisdiction there.”
The university has, however, been assisting police since learning about the incident, he added.
