Hostel manager sent to jail for assaulting DU student, her friend

A Dhaka court has sent the manager of a hostel in Tejgaon area in the capital to jail in connection with the assault of a Dhaka University student and her friend last night (7 October).

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Abdul Wahab issued the order today (8 October) following a police plea to keep the accused, Razia Begum, manager of Swapnonibas Women's Hostel, in jail, said Sub-Inspector Rafiqul Islam of the Prosecution Police.

"Mirpur Model Police Station Sub-Inspector Shamsuzzoha Sarkar, the investigation officer in the case, submitted the petition. The defence, meanwhile, filed a bail petition for Razia. The court later fixed tomorrow for the bail hearing," the officer said.

In the early hours of today, Razia was arrested from the Indira Road area in Farmgate after the victim filed an attempted to murder case with the Mirpur Model Police Station.

According to the case statement, Nafisa Tabassum Prova, a university admission test candidate, rented a room at Swapnonibas hostel on 1 October for Tk7,500 a month. The hostel allowed guests to stay, but no additional charges were mentioned.

Around 9pm yesterday, Prova's friend, Saidunnecha Shapla, a student from the Department of Law at Dhaka University, visited her. Hostel manager Razia demanded Tk400 as a guest fee, which led to an argument between Razia and Prova.

Around 9:40pm, Razia asked Prova to leave the hostel.

Later, around 10:30pm, Shapla's brother arrived to pick her up. At that point, Razia allegedly tried to stop Shapla from leaving. When Prova attempted to pay the rent, another altercation broke out.

Acting on the hostel owner Sohel's instructions, Razia allegedly struck Prova on the head, causing her to lose consciousness. Following Sohel's orders, Razia also assaulted and threatened both Prova and Shapla and took Tk8,000 from Prova's possession.