Sarbamitra 'forces teenagers to perform sit-ups by holding ears' at DU playground

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) executive member Sarbamitra Chakma has been accused of forcing around 30 teenagers to perform sit-ups by holding their ears at the University of Dhaka’s central playground.

A video of the incident later circulated on social media platforms triggering widespread criticism from students and netizens.

Videos and photographs of the incident went viral on social media on Sunday, showing a group of teenagers standing in a row at the south-eastern corner of the central playground while being scolded with a stick.

The footage shows Sarbamitra Chakma supervising the punishment. According to witnesses, the teenagers were aged between 8 and 20.

Abdullah Al Masum, an eyewitness and also a student of Surjasen Hall, said the video was recorded at around 4:44pm on January 6 from the western side of the playground.

He said that inter-department cricket practice was taking place at the time, while some outsider teenagers were playing football in a sandy corner of the field.

“Sarbamitra Chakma went there, called them outsiders and made them sit up by holding their ears,” Masum said.

“Some of the boys were only 8-10 years old, while others were around 15–16. When someone present objected, he was also scolded and forced to stand in line. There was no member of the proctorial team on the spot,” he added.

When contacted, Sarbamitra said the video had been posted in the Facebook groups and claimed that students took it positively.

"I don’t want to say much more about it,” he added.

Dhaka University Proctor and Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said he was not aware of the video.

“Every activity has rules. If anyone wants to play, they must take permission and follow the rules,” he said.

Asked whether a DUCSU member has the authority to punish anyone, he added, “I cannot comment without knowing the full details. The matter will be discussed after talking to the concerned people.”

SM Zakaria, acting director of the Physical Education Centre, said he had heard about the incident for the first time from this correspondent.

“If this has happened, it is clearly against the rules and an abuse of power. I will look into the matter and inform you,” he said.

Condemning the incident, Saifullah, social service secretary of Haji Mohammad Muhsin Hall, said, “Their only ‘crime’ was coming to play on the central field. Making them sit up by holding their ears and being threatened with sticks is completely unacceptable.”

He added that Dhaka University was being turned into a “laughingstock” and questioned how such punishment could be imposed despite the presence of a proctorial system.

DUCSU General Secretary SM Farhad said that no DUCSU representative has the right to exercise force.

“If there are complaints against any elected representative, action will definitely be taken. We will take a clear stand against any form of indecency, regardless of who is involved,” he said.