Dhaka, May 20 (V7N) — Dhaka University’s unit of the opposition student organization Chhatra Dal held a torch procession on Monday evening demanding justice for the murder of Shahriar Alam shammo, a student of the university’s Institute of Education and Research. The protest march began at 7:00 PM from the Raju Sculpture and concluded in front of the Vice Chancellor's residence, where a brief assembly was held.

The protestors accused the university administration—particularly Vice Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan and Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed—of failing to ensure campus safety over the past nine months and demanded their immediate resignation.

Chhatra Dal’s Dhaka University unit president, Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas, stated during the gathering, “It has been six days since shammo’s murder, and yet the Vice Chancellor and Proctor claim to know nothing. We have exercised patience for the past six days. The killers have not been identified, and we are deeply concerned.”

Sahas alleged that attempts are being made to shift the narrative of the murder in a way that benefits the university administration. “In July and August, shammo was a frontline activist. Now, a mob is trying to build an alternate version of events around his murder, which aligns with the stance of the VC and Proctor. Those trying to distort the narrative must also be brought to justice.”

The event was moderated by Chhatra Dal’s DU unit General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon. Other key figures in attendance included Senior Vice President Masum Billah, Vice President Anisur Rahman Anik, and Senior Joint Secretary Nasir Uddin Shawon, among others.

Background: The Murder of shammo

On May 13, Shahriar Alam shammo, a student at the Institute of Education and Research, was fatally stabbed by unidentified assailants in Suhrawardy Udyan, a public park adjacent to the university. The incident sent shockwaves across the campus and beyond. Police later confirmed the arrest of three individuals in connection with the killing. However, the motive and full details remain unclear, sparking growing discontent among students and civil society.

Vice Chancellor Visits Crime Scene

Amid the rising tension, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan on Monday, May 20, visited Suhrawardy Udyan accompanied by Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed, assistant proctors, members of the proctorial team, and law enforcement personnel.

Following the visit, the Vice Chancellor told reporters, “So far, we have installed 20 CCTV cameras and several street lights in the area to strengthen security. We also observed the presence of regular police patrol units in the vicinity.”

Professor Khan added, “The university administration is increasing its monitoring efforts in and around Suhrawardy Udyan. We call on all stakeholders to cooperate in restoring campus safety and accountability.”

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