The incident occurred at around 10:30am on Tuesday (January 6) in front of the main gate of Jagannath University. The victim, Mahima Akhter, is a student of the Law Department from the 2018–19 academic session and the wife of Riazul Islam, vice-presidential candidate of the Shibir-backed panel.
According to sources, Mahima Akhter was staying outside the campus at the time of the incident. She was wearing a hijab and niqab when Chhatra Dal leaders and activists allegedly asked her to remove her niqab and mask and questioned her identity.
Witnesses said several Chhatra Dal leaders, including central vice-president Kazi Ziauddin Basit, former university unit president Asaduzzaman Aslam, current member secretary Shamsul Arefin, and the unit secretary, were present at the scene along with other activists. At one stage, Chhatra Dal activists reportedly blocked a police-covered van and stood in front of it.
Mahima Akhter alleged that she was harassed while standing outside the university gate. “I was standing outside the university when Chhatra Dal activists came and harassed me. A relative was with me at the time. They asked me to remove my hijab and mask because I was wearing them,” she said.
Riazul Islam, president of the university unit of Chhatra Shibir and vice-presidential candidate of the ‘Indomitable Jabian Oikya’ panel, said Mahima Akhter was working outside the campus in support of their panel. “She is my wife and a 14th batch student of the Law Department of this university. Since morning, Chhatra Dal activists were pushing and shoving outside the gate. Later, with police assistance, the situation was brought under control,” he said.
He further alleged that Chhatra Dal leaders and activists created a mob-like situation. “Such behavior is in no way desirable,” he added.
Jagannath University Proctor Professor Dr. Muhammad Tajammul Haque said the issue was resolved after it was brought to the attention of the university authorities.
