Two first-year Dhaka University students, Shahedul Islam and Ayazur Rahman, sustained serious injuries in a violent assault at Chandni Chowk Market on Monday night after confronting shop staff over verbal harassment directed at their female classmate.
The altercation began when shop employees at Jasmine Fabrics allegedly made vulgar and classist remarks toward DU student Masrat during a visit to buy clothes. When fellow students protested, the confrontation escalated, with the shop manager and nearby vendors reportedly accusing them of theft and launching a physical attack.
Both injured students were treated at the DU medical centre, and a case has been filed at New Market Police Station. Authorities have arrested three suspects, including a man named Milon, and identified four more through CCTV footage.
The incident has reignited concerns over student safety in Dhaka’s commercial zones and the rising tensions between young protesters and market vendors. While the police response has been prompt, calls are growing for better protection and accountability to prevent future incidents of harassment and violence.
