University student beaten to death in Khulna hostel over ‘rice theft’ allegation

A student of North Western University has been allegedly beaten to death after being accused of ‘stealing and eating rice’ in a hostel in Khulna. The incident took place at a hostel on Islamnagar Road next to Khulna University on Friday night. The deceased Azmul Hossain, 21, was a first-semester student of the English department of the university.

The deceased Azmul Hossain was the son of Kutub Uddin of Boro Sholua village in Darshana area of Chuadanga. He came to Khulna about a year ago for studies and stayed at that hostel. However, his father said he was admitted to North Western University only 10 days ago. After being beaten at the hostel on Friday night, he was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital in a critically injured condition where doctors declared him dead.

According to local residents and several people of the hostel, an allegation was raised on Friday night that Azmul had eaten the rice of the hostel manager. After that several students of the hostel and some people who came from outside beat him over the allegation of rice theft. At one stage he was taken to the roof of the building and tortured, it is alleged. Later nearby residents heard a loud sound of something falling and came outside to find Azmul lying in the alley.

After receiving the news, other students of the hostel took him to the hospital by ambulance. A doctor of the hospital’s emergency department said there were marks of injury on different parts of Azmul’s body and both his legs were found broken. After being taken to the hospital, doctors declared him dead. After the news of the death spread, several students of the hostel left from in front of the hospital’s emergency department, the hospital authorities said.

Father of the deceased Kutub Uddin said he last spoke to his son over phone around 9pm on Friday night. At that time Azmul had told him he was fine. Later after 12am a person called from his son’s phone and informed that Azmul had created trouble and asked him to come to Khulna quickly with Tk 1 lakh. The person also threatened that the son would not be found if the money was not brought, Kutub Uddin alleged. Later he came to Khulna in the morning and found his son dead. Kutub Uddin claimed his son had not committed any crime. Being a poor farmer, he expressed helplessness about justice for his son’s killing.

Police of Harintana Police Station have started investigation into the incident. Officer-in-Charge of the police station Md Iqbal Hossain said if the father of the deceased does not file a case, police will file a case as the complainant. Assistant Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Humayun Kabir said all necessary legal measures will be taken in the murder incident.

Vice-Chancellor of North Western University Professor Kanai Lal Sarker said the university will stand beside Azmul’s family and provide necessary cooperation in the legal process.

Director of Student Affairs of Khulna University Professor Md Salauddin also said although the incident took place outside the university boundary, necessary assistance is being given to police in the investigation.