JCD Beats Journalists, DUCSU Leaders; 10 Injured, Police ‘Disappear’

A violent confrontation erupted at the Shahbagh Police Station on Thursday evening (April 23) after a doctored photo involving a member of the BNP leadership's family triggered a clash between activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) and DUCSU leaders. The unrest led to a coordinated assault on at least 10 campus journalists and several DUCSU leaders, while police reportedly remained inactive for over an hour.

The Trigger: A Doctored Photocard

The tension began when a screenshot of a Facebook post—containing offensive remarks about Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman—went viral. JCD activists accused Dhaka University (DU) Shibir leader Abdullah Al Mahmud of creating the post.

However, the fact-checking entity Rumor Scanner confirmed the image was a "deepfake" or edited screenshot. An offensive post by a user named Eshan Chowdhury had been digitally altered to superimpose Mahmud’s profile details. Mahmud himself had arrived at the Shahbagh Police Station earlier that evening to file a General Diary (GD) claiming the post was fraudulent.

The Assault and 'Mob Justice'

As news of Mahmud’s presence spread, nearly 150 JCD activists from various DU halls besieged the station. When DUCSU Social Welfare Secretary AB Jubayer and Literary Secretary Mosaddek Ali Ibne Mohammad arrived around 8:00 PM to mediate or assess the situation, they were immediately surrounded and beaten with kicks and punches.

The violence quickly extended to journalists covering the event. Witnesses reported that JCD activists shouted, “What kind of journalists?” before launching a physical attack on reporters.

• Injured Journalists: Manzur Hossain Mahi (DUJA President), Liton Islam (DUJA GS), and several others from Daily Observer, Naya Diganta, and Manabzamin.

• Serious Injuries: Mohammad Iftekhar Hossain Sifat of Dhaka Mail sustained severe injuries to his eyes and face and required treatment at the DU Medical Center.

"Even after identifying myself, they became more aggressive and launched a coordinated attack." — Manzur Hossain Mahi, President, DUJA

Security Breakdown: Police 'Disappear'

A major point of contention was the perceived absence of law enforcement. Despite the violence occurring inside and directly in front of the police station, victims claimed that the police were "missing" for over an hour. JCD activists effectively held the station premises under siege, and no officers intervened until approximately 9:00 PM.

Top officials, including DC Masud Alam and OC Moniruzzaman, were reportedly unavailable for comment during the peak of the crisis.

Resolution and Condemnation

The situation began to stabilize after 9:15 PM when JCD Central President Rakibul Islam Rakib and DUCSU VP Sadik Kayem (a Shibir leader) arrived at the scene. Under heavy police escort, the besieged DUCSU leaders and journalists were extracted through a rear gate of the Shahbagh Mosque.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from student leaders and political commentators:

• Mahin Sarkar (NCP): Labeled the event "an aggressive display of mob justice," criticizing the JCD leadership for failing to maintain discipline and the police for being "silent observers."

• JCD Response: The central president expressed his condolences and said he was sorry for what had happened. He also requested that people refrain from provoking mobs through posts or activities that could lead to unrest, and urged the public not to visit places where mob incidents may occur. He further stated that the “Gupto (hidden)” political culture is also responsible for such situations. Central GS Nasir Uddin Nasir stated they would look into the matter and take appropriate measures after a full investigation.

• Shibir Response: DUCSU Vice President and Chhatra Shibir leader Shadik Kayem said that even in such a critical situation, where students were brutally attacked with the assistance of police and Chhatra Dal members reportedly beat DUCSU members, the DUCSU leadership was unable to reach the Vice-Chancellor, Proctor, or the Provost Committee. He said they did not respond to their calls. He further alleged that similar situations had occurred in the past under Chhatra League, and claimed that Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal are essentially the same. He emphasized, “do not play with fire,” warning that such actions could escalate tensions further.

As of late Thursday night, the Shahbagh area remains under heavy police surveillance, and student organizations are calling for accountability for those who led the attack on the media and student representatives.