Hundreds demand justice for Tofazzal’s funeral

A probe committee finds involvement of eight Dhaka University students in the murder

Demands for justice have echoed at the funeral of Tofazzal Hossain, who was killed in Dhaka University’s Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall two days ago.

He was buried on Friday morning at the family graveyard in Pathorghata Upazila of Barguna, following a funeral prayer at a local madrasa ground.

Residents and family members held a human chain at Char Duani Bazar, calling for “exemplary punishment” for those involved in the murder.

Tofazzal was laid to rest next to the graves of his parents and brother.

He had lost his father in a road accident eight years ago, his mother five years ago, and his brother last Ramadan.

His former schoolteacher, Milan Mia, described Tofazzal as a bright and gentle student.

He said, “I never saw him mistreat anyone. Even if he was mentally unstable, he spoke to everyone with a smile. We cannot accept this death.”

After losing all family members, Tofazzal had been wandering around the Dhaka University campus for the past two to three years.

Those in the area who knew him would always help him. Whenever he saw someone familiar on campus, Tofazzal would run over to exchange greetings.

His acquaintances would buy him food or give him money for meals. Occasionally, Tofazzal would also ask for money.

On Wednesday, Tofazzal was wandering the university area and entered the Fazlul Haque Hall. Accused of stealing a mobile phone, he was detained and interrogated by several students.

Reports said he was later fed at the hall canteen before being beaten with cricket stumps. Multiple videos of the beating were shared on social media.

He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a doctor.

8 DU STUDENTS ‘FOUND INVOLVED’

An investigation committee formed by Dhaka University found the involvement of eight students in Tofazzal’s murder, according to a statement from the university's public relations office on Friday.

The university deeply regretted over the incident and said it swiftly formed an investigation committee at 8am on Thursday, which submitted its report by 11pm the same day.

The report identified eight students, and the university vowed to take administrative action.

The university also pledged to prevent the recurrence of such ‘heinous acts’ and sought cooperation from all parties involved.

The committee's findings indicated that three of the accused students were leaders of the Chhatra League.

Among the eight accused, six have confessed to the court and have been sent to jail.

They are Md Jalal Mia, 25, a former deputy science and technology secretary of the Fazlul Haque Hall branch of Chhatra League and a physics student, along with Suman Mia, 21, from the soil, water, and environment department, Md Mottakin Sakin of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, Al Hossain Sajjad of geography, Ahsan Ullah from the mathematics department, and another student, Wajibul Alam, from the same hall.

Firoz Kabir from the botany department and Abdus Samad from the physics department have yet to be arrested.