Ducsu leaders present video, allege extortion by DU Chhatra Dal activists

Three Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) leaders today (25 January) presented a video at a press conference, alleging extortion involving activists of Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal.

The press conference was held at Madhur Canteen on the Dhaka University campus, where Ducsu Social Welfare Secretary AB Zubair, Literature and Cultural Affairs Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad, and Executive Member Sarba Mitra Chakma displayed the video using a projector.

Speaking at the press conference, Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad said the purpose of the video presentation was to make Dhaka University free from extortion.

DU forms probe committee over extortion allegations linked to makeshift shops

"Dhaka University is the intellectual centre of the country. If extortion, violence and tender manipulation can be eliminated here, it can be eliminated across the country," he said.

"This initiative aims to expose, with evidence, the extortion that has allegedly been going on at the university for a long time," he added.

He further claimed that attempts were being made to create a "different situation" on campus since the alleged extortion information was made public the previous night.

"If the organisations facing allegations were responsible, they would have taken action against those involved. Instead, we see Chhatra Dal defending these incidents," he said, adding that the party had failed to address the issue within its own ranks and had instead made counter-accusations.

The allegations stem from a video that recently went viral on social media, showing a mobile street food cart being vandalised and set on fire on the Dhaka University campus.

In the video, several individuals, identified as university students, are seen damaging a small mobile food cart with hammers before setting it ablaze. The incident has led to conflicting claims and counterclaims among Ducsu, Chhatra Dal, and Jatiya Chhatra Shakti leaders.

Since midnight yesterday (24 January), both sides have issued statements on social media and held rival protest programmes on campus over the incident.

Journalist Md Muhaiminul Islam of Bonik Barta shared the video on his Facebook timeline yesterday (24 January) night, claiming that Dhaka University Chhatra Dal activists vandalised and set fire to the shop in retaliation for the publication of extortion-related reports. He later told The Business Standard that he had evidence supporting his claim.

However, while the Facebook post mentioned the TSC area of the campus as the location, it did not specify the exact date or time of the incident. In a separate post, Sarba Mitra Chakma claimed the incident took place on 27 December.

Sarba Mitra also accused five students of involvement in the vandalism and arson. Among those named was Said Hasan Sad Bijoy, joint convener of Bijoy Ekattor Hall unit of Chhatra Dal. Sanaullah Sani, a former member of the now-dissolved Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad, and Kawser Mahmud, joint convener of Surja Sen Hall unit of Chhatra Dal, were also named.

Another accused, Abid Abdullah, had contested the Ducsu executive member post from the Umama Fatema panel.