Khulna student 'assaulted over theft suspicion', dies after falling from 5th floor

Highlights:

• Family alleges he was assaulted over a theft accusation
• Police investigate circumstances surrounding deadly fall
• Witnesses report shouting and screams from the building
• Post-mortem completed before body was handed over to family

A 22-year-old university student died after falling from the roof of a five-storey building in Khulna early today (19 September), hours after he was allegedly taken there and assaulted over an accusation of theft, according to his family and witnesses.

Azmal Hossain, a first-year English student at North Western University, was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital from a mess on Islamnagar Road, near Khulna University's residential halls, at around 1:30am. He died shortly afterwards.

Azmal, from Darshana in Chuadanga, lived in room D-8 of the building.

His family alleged that several youths accused him of stealing and took him to the rooftop, where they beat him before he fell. It remains unclear whether he jumped or was pushed, and police said they were investigating the circumstances of his death.

Confirming the demise, Harintana Police Station Officer-in-Charge Iqbal Hossain said police had learned of a dispute on the fourth floor of the building over an allegation of theft.

"From speaking to locals in the morning, we learned that Azmal was taken away and beaten over an allegation of theft. Later, he became critically ill after jumping from the roof and died after being taken to hospital," he said.

He said police were investigating the incident.

Azmal's father, Qutub Uddin, said he received a call from his son's mobile phone shortly after midnight from a young man demanding Tk1 lakh over an alleged theft.

"Several boys called and said my son had stolen their things. They demanded Tk1 lakh immediately. I told them I was coming to Khulna as quickly as possible and would speak to them in person," he said.

Qutub said he left for Khulna that night. When he reached the mess the following morning and could not find his son, local people told him that Azmal had been assaulted and taken to hospital.

"I came in the morning and found that my son was no longer alive," he said.

Family members said Azmal had arrived in Khulna around 5:30pm on Friday and spoken to them for the last time around 9pm. He told them he was fine and asked them not to worry.

His father said the call demanding money came a few hours later.

During a visit to the building opposite Khaja Khan Jahan Ali Hall of Khulna University this afternoon, The Business Standard found seven of its eight rooms locked. Azmal lived in room D-8.

Labib Biswas Russell, a Khulna University student who lives in room D-1, said several people, including a person named Mehedi, took Azmal to the roof after accusing him of theft.

"He was beaten on the roof. But I cannot say exactly what happened afterwards or how Azmal died," he said.

There were marks on part of the rooftop resembling displaced dust and broken plaster, although it could not immediately be established whether they were connected to Azmal's fall.

A woman living in a neighbouring building said she heard a loud sound at around 12:45am.

"I opened the door and saw a boy lying in the alley in front of the building. Later, the students brought an ambulance and took him to hospital," she said.

Several local landlords also said they heard shouting and commotion from the building at around 1am. They said they heard what sounded like someone being assaulted upstairs, followed by screams.

Azmal was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Doctors in the emergency department said he had injuries to several parts of his body and fractures in both legs. Hospital sources also said part of his hair had been cut.

He died 15–20 minutes after being admitted, according to the sources.

Several students who took him to the hospital left shortly afterwards, they said.

Police handed Azmal's body to his family after a post-mortem examination. The family later left for Chuadanga with the body.

Investigation Officer Mohammad Murad Hossain Milon said, "We are investigating the incident. A case is under process."

Asked about the allegation that Azmal's family had been asked for Tk1 lakh, he said, "The deceased's father told us this. We are verifying the claim."

Khulna University Director of Student Affairs Professor Dr Md Salauddin said the incident took place outside the university campus.

"The incident occurred outside the university. We have no role in incidents outside the university. However, we have spoken to the police administration and are assisting them," he said.