The Dhaka University (DU) campus has been thrown into controversy and division following the brutal murder of student leader Shahriar Alam Shamyo, with conflicting opinions emerging over Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan's role and response to the tragedy.
Tensions erupted after Shamyo, 25, was fatally stabbed late Tuesday night at Suhrawardy Udyan. A master's student at the Institute of Education and Research and the Literary and Publication Secretary of Chhatra Dal's A.F. Rahman Hall unit, Shamyo was known for his involvement in student activism.
Members of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have since blamed the university administration for failing to ensure campus safety and have demanded the immediate resignation of the Vice-Chancellor. Protesters marched to the VC's residence, chanting slogans and confronting Professor Niaz, who responded to their outrage with the remark, "Are you going to hit me? Then hit me." Later, he and Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital to pay respects to Shamyo.
The incident has exposed fault lines among teachers, students, and political activists. While some have condemned the administration for negligence, others have defended the university leadership, calling for restraint and unity in seeking justice.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud described Shamyo as a "frontline figure in every legitimate student movement" and expressed grief over the failure to protect him. He announced plans to modernise Suhrawardy Udyan, stating, "From tomorrow, regular security drives will begin. No dark corner will remain. The area will be equipped with proper lighting and CCTV cameras."
Amid mounting criticism, Sarjis Alam, Chief Organiser (Northern Region) of the Jatiya Nagorik Party, publicly supported the Vice-Chancellor.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, he wrote: "The treatment of the VC and Proctor after our brother Samyo's murder, and attempts to pin the blame on them, are mere distractions from the truth."
