DU alumni, woman ‘harassed’ at Shahidullah Hall before World Cup screening

Several Dhaka University (DU) alumni, including a former student couple, have alleged that they were harassed while trying to watch the France-Norway FIFA World Cup match at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall early Saturday.

The incident took place around 12:00am, about an hour before the match was scheduled to begin.

Md Saju Mia, social welfare secretary of the Shahidullah Hall Students' Union, and other students have been accused of harassing the group.

Meftahul Hossain Al Maruf, publicity secretary of the DU unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir, confirmed to The Daily Star that Saju Mia is a “shathi” (associate member) of the organisation.

One of the victims filed a written complaint with the university proctor on Saturday evening seeking action over the incident.

In a Facebook post, Mohtasin Billah Emon, one of the victims, said a group of six people, including several alumni and a married couple, had gone to Shahidullah Hall to watch the match. After signing the visitors' register at the hall gate, they entered the premises.

According to Emon, when some students asked who they were, they identified themselves as DU alumni.

He alleged that Saju Mia, accompanied by several others, then surrounded the group and instructed them to leave because a woman was with them.

According to Emon, Saju told them, "You can't stay here with a woman. Leave now."

Emon further alleged that when they tried to speak to senior students about the matter, they were not given the opportunity. He claimed that organisers of the World Cup screening later informed them that those who confronted them had no affiliation with the event.

He also alleged that photographs and videos of the group were taken during the incident and that they were threatened with having the footage circulated in the hall's online groups.

Speaking to reporters, Shahidullah Hall Provost Dr Md Aminul Islam Bhuiyan said a giant screen had been installed for students to watch the World Cup matches and that there was no restriction on female students entering the hall premises for that purpose.

Contacted for comment, Saju Mia denied harassing the woman or any member of the group.

He claimed the group had entered the hall around 12:00am when no match was being shown and said he went there after receiving complaints from hall residents.

DU Proctor Israfil Ratan confirmed that a complaint had been filed by friends of the victims.

"The university administration will investigate the matter," he said.