A shameful defeat for humanity: Two years after Toffazzal’s murder at DU, trial has yet to begin

Staff Reporter

The brutal incident that took place at the Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall of Dhaka University on the night of September 18, 2024, is still fresh in the memories of the people of the country. It has been two years since Tofazzal Hossain, a mentally unstable young man suspected of being a thief, was arrested and beaten to death, but the trial process is still stalled.

Relatives of the deceased have expressed extreme anger that the trial has not begun even after 24 months have passed since the case filed by the Dhaka University authorities and the subsequent appeal by the deceased’s family.

On the day of the incident, on September 18, at around 7:45 pm, Tofazzal, a son of Patharghata in Barguna, was suspiciously roaming around the gate of Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall. The young man, who had a master’s degree in accounting from the university’s BM College, was living a lonely life due to mental imbalance.

The students caught him and first took him to the guest room on the charge of stealing a mobile phone and slapped him. Realizing that Tofazzal was a ‘mental patient’, they also fed him food in the hall canteen.

But before he could finish eating, he was taken to the guest room in the south building of the hall, his hands tied to the window, and severely beaten with a stamp, hockey stick, and baton. After losing consciousness at one point, he died while undergoing treatment.

The video that went viral on social media showed Tofazzal’s innocent face and the scene of him eating rice, which caused intense anger and discussion across the country.

Tofazzal had no family left. After his father died of cancer eight years ago, his mother five years ago, and his only elder brother, a police SI, died in 2023, Tofazzal completely lost his mental balance.

On the morning of the day he was taken to the Pabna Mental Hospital, he broke his chains and escaped to Dhaka. Upon hearing the news of Tofazzal’s beating, his cousin Asma Akhter Tania called the students and informed them of Tofazzal’s physical condition and pleaded for his release.

But relatives allege that the level of torture was increased after their request.

After the incident, Tania filed a case in court against 15 people, including the provost of Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall. The court ordered an investigation into the matter along with the case filed by the university authorities.

However, despite the fact that two years have passed, the trial has not started, Tania lamented, saying, “It has been two years and the trial has not started yet. We may have a grudge. We want justice.”

On the other hand, the DU Estate Office has also demanded exemplary punishment for the real culprits.

The tragic end of a happy family and the extrajudicial killings in places like Dhaka University still await justice.