Legal notices seek judicial probe into killings of Shammo, Siddique, Tofazzal in DU; demand Tk150cr in compensation

Four Supreme Court lawyers have issued legal notices to multiple authorities, demanding a judicial inquiry into the deaths of Dhaka University students Shahriar Alam Shammo, Abu Bakar Siddique, and Tofazzal Hossain, who was beaten to death after being suspected of being a thief.

Of the victims, DU Chhatra Dal leader Shammo died after being fatally stabbed by miscreants late last night (13 May) near Suhrawardy Udyan; Siddique, a third-year student of Islamic History and Culture, died on 3 February 2010 after he was fatally injured during a factional clash of Chhatra League at Sir AF Rahman Hall; and Tofazzal Hossain was beaten to death on 18 September 2024.

The notices called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the causes of these deaths and urged immediate measures to ensure the safety and security of DU students, faculty, and staff. 

The lawyers also demanded Tk50 crore in compensation for the families of each of the three deceased — totalling Tk150 crore.

The notices, sent via email on Wednesday (May 14), were addressed to the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, the Pro-VCs for administration and education, the registrar, the proctor, the secretaries of the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, the inspector general of police (IGP), and the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The legal notices were issued by Barrister Solaiman Tushar, Barrister Mahdi Zaman (Boni), Advocate Bayezid Hossain, Advocate Naim Sardar (Ayan), and Advocate Shahed Siddiqui.

Confirming the move, Barrister Solaiman Tushar said, "The series of killings on the Dhaka University campus is deeply regrettable. The authorities have failed to ensure the safety of students, and this failure has directly contributed to these tragic deaths."

The recipients of the notices have been asked to take action within three days. If no action is taken, the lawyers have warned that they will pursue all legal avenues, including filing a writ petition with the High Court.

The notices hold the authorities concerned responsible for the deaths and concrete steps to prevent further incidents.