Dhaka University student accuses Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall provost of harassment and forced confession over social media post
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A student at the University of Dhaka has accused the provost of Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of physical and mental harassment, alleging he was held against his will for 90 minutes over a social media post.
The student, Mohammad Ibrahim, a third-year pupil in the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, claims that Provost Professor Elias Al Mamun summoned him to his office on Sunday afternoon. According to Ibrahim, hall staff forcibly confiscated his mobile phone, barred him from exiting the room, and locked the door. Ibrahim alleges he was threatened with expulsion from the university and legal action under the Cyber Security Act unless he signed a pre-written statement claiming he was coerced by hall student leaders to criticize the administration online.
Ibrahim further stated that he was subjected to psychological intimidation and was only released after he became visibly distressed during a phone call with his mother. He alleged that the provost admitted he was targeted because the administration was unable to locate another student who had authored a critical post, and that the provost expressed an intent to punish the original author.
Professor Elias Al Mamun has categorically denied the allegations of harassment and confinement. He stated that he summoned the student to discuss defamatory social media content. The provost claimed that the student was asked to surrender his phone after he was caught recording the conversation, adding that the student voluntarily deleted the recording.
The provost defended the signed statement, asserting that the student confessed to being influenced by student union leaders, including the Vice President, General Secretary, and Assistant General Secretary of the hall council. Professor Mamun further dismissed claims of confinement, stating the interaction occurred in his office during business hours with staff present, and noted that he provided the student with refreshments before allowing him to leave.
The incident sparked a protest at the university on Sunday night, with residents of Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall gathering outside the provost’s office to demand his resignation. Members of the hall council, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), and the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Shakti participated in the demonstration.
A delegation representing the students met with the provost to demand access to CCTV footage of the alleged incident. The students reported that Professor Mamun refused to provide the recordings. Following the meeting, the protesters declared the provost persona non grata and vowed to maintain their blockade of his office until he steps down. The protest was ongoing as of midnight.
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