Photo: BSS

CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - A human chain was formed at Chittagong University today protesting the attack on Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU) Cafeteria and Library Affairs Secretary Masum Billah demanding exemplary punishment for those involved in the incident.

Held in front of the university’s administrative building, participants in the human chain displayed placards demanding arrest and punishment of the attackers. 

CUCSU Liberation War and Democratic Movement Affairs Secretary Monayem Sharif moderated the event while CUCSU Vice-President (VP) Ibrahim Hossain Roni, CUCSU Joint General Secretary Ayobur Rahman Towfick, CUCSU Law and Human Rights Affairs Secretary Fazle Rabbi Tawhid, Sohrawardy Hall Students’ Union Vice-President (VP) Niamat Ullah Abrar Farabi and CUCSU Deputy Office Secretary Jannatul Adn Nusrat spoke. 

CUCSU VP Ibrahim Hossain Roni said, “Last August, nearly 500 students, teachers and employees were injured in an attack by locals. Among them, three will never be able to return to normal life. Outsiders have long made our campus unsafe. If the administration cannot ensure the safety of an elected CUCSU representative, how will it guarantee the security of ordinary students? We urge the authorities to identify and bring the attackers to justice within 24-hour, otherwise we will be compelled to announce tougher programmes.”

CUCSU Joint General Secretary Ayobur Rahman Towfick said, “Incidents of attacks on students by locals or outsiders have been occurring repeatedly. The attack on Masum Billah is part of that trend and appears to be a targeted one. We will not tolerate attacks on any student of the university. If necessary, we will build a broader movement involving all students to ensure a safe campus.”

CUCSU Law and Human Rights Affairs Secretary Fazle Rabbi Tawhid said, “In many cases criminals are released with a mere bond after committing offences on campus. Who has given the administration the authority to free criminals this way? This has emboldened the attackers. As a result, they no longer hesitate to assault students. A criminal has no identity except being a criminal. The authorities must bring those involved to justice within the next 24 hours.”

Later around midnight, Hasibul Hasan, nephew of Masum Billah and a student of the 2021–22 session at the Institute of Marine Sciences of the university, filed a case with Hathazari Model Police Station. In the case, Md Ariful Islam, son of Md Akbar Hossain of Adarshagram under Ward No. 7 of Hathazari municipality, was named as the prime accused.

Following the incident, police conducted a drive and arrested one suspect, Delwar Hossain Munna, from Hathazari area around 2:30pm on Tuesday.

Officer-in-Charge of Hathazari Model Police Station Md Jahidur Rahman confirmed the matter around 3pm, saying, “One accused named Delwar Hossain Munna has been arrested from Hathazari today. He has already been sent to court.”