Two Dhaka University students accused of assaulting women at TSC, probe launched

Two Dhaka University students have been accused of assaulting two women at TSC in the early hours of the day.

The incident came to light on Wednesday after a video circulated widely on social media, drawing sharp criticism.

In the footage, one of the accused is seen holding a bamboo cane and appearing to attempt to kick a woman. The women allege in the video that they were beaten.

One of the young women is heard saying, “We are not safe in front of Dhaka University. We are not safe after Aug 5. The boys from the university catch us and beat us. Apparently our dresses give away the impression that we are prostitutes.”

Another woman says, “We came from Nazirabazar after Sehri and are standing at TSC. My rider was slapped. They are calling us prostitutes. Can they lay hands on women?”

At one point, when someone off camera says there is no evidence, one of the women responds, “There is CCTV camera footage”.

Another woman is heard expressing anger, asking why she was slapped and questioning how a student of Dhaka University could strike her. 

“Can’t I come to TSC? Am I coming from outside Bangladesh?” she says in the video.

The suspects have been identified as Shahriar Islam Tushar, a student of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies for the 2023–24 academic year and a resident of Bijoy Ekattor Hall, and Rakib Ahmed Sohan, a student of the Department of World Religions and Culture for the same academic year and a resident of Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall.

When contacted, Tushar denied the allegations. He claimed that although he had an altercation with a man who was with the two women, he did not raise his hand against any woman.

“On the way back from Sehri, I saw a woman and a man in a ‘bad’ state at TSC and could tell from their conversation that they were drunk,” he said. 

He added that he wanted to know their identities and that an argument began after the men accompanying the women behaved rudely, eventually leading to a fight.

“After the fight, the girl who was there repeatedly attacked me. I can't fight with a girl. When I just went to move her with my hand, she claimed that I slapped her,” he said.

Rakib could not be reached for comment by phone.

Two of the women involved in the incident later submitted a written complaint to the university’s proctor.

Dhaka University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the matter. He said the authorities are trying to collect additional CCTV footage.

“Initially, they could not be seen on the CCTV camera hitting the women with sticks, but a man was seen hitting them with a helmet,” the proctor said.