RU Chhatra Dal leader who sued journalists detained with ‘tapentadol’

Police in Rajshahi have detained a Rajshahi University Chhatra Dal leader who had filed a case against several journalists following reports about allegations of extortion and a student stabbing.

Police said he was detained with suspected tapentadol tablets.

Hasibur Rahman Hasib, joint general secretary of the Rajshahi University unit of Chhatra Dal, was detained from the Mizaner Mor area of Chowddopai in Rajshahi around noon on Saturday, police said.

Mohammad Golam Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Motihar Police Station, confirmed the detention. He said a police team led by Sub-Inspector Ripon Kumar conducted an operation based on confidential information and detained Hasib with tapentadol, a prescription painkiller that is also misused as a narcotic. He remains in police custody.

Hasib is a student of the History Department at Rajshahi University from the 2017–18 academic session. He has previously faced several allegations, including extortion and involvement in campus violence.

In October 2024, Chhatra Dal suspended him from its organisational post after a phone conversation allegedly involving extortion with a member of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League was leaked. He was again accused of extortion in June 2025, including allegedly detaining several people on campus and demanding money.

Chhatra Dal later revoked the expulsion orders of Hasib and two other expelled leaders in 2025, saying the allegations against them had not been substantiated.

Hasib was also accused in April this year of stabbing a student, Abu Hasan, allegedly with the help of outsiders.

Following media reports on the allegations and incidents, Hasib filed a case with Motihar Police Station on July 11 against several journalists. He alleged that the reports were false and defamatory and had been published as part of a deliberate effort to damage his reputation and push him out of political activities.

The case named the editors of bdnews24.com, The Daily Campus, Sokaler Bulletin and NTV Online, along with a Rajshahi University correspondent of The Daily Campus and Hasan, the student who had accused Hasib of stabbing him.

Asked whether the university Chhatra Dal would take organisational action following Hasib’s detention, RU Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi said the organisation had yet to receive full details of the incident.

“We will contact the police and verify the allegations. If the allegations are substantiated, organisational action will be taken depending on the nature of his involvement in drug use or trafficking,” he said.

RU Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman said the university authorities were aware of the detention and that the matter would be investigated in accordance with the law.

“If the allegations are proven, the university administration will take appropriate action,” he said.