Student leader attacked with machete in Shermonkal, attacker identity remains unknown

Moulvibazar, 10 November: Hasib Al Islam, a coordinator of the anti‑discrimination student movement in Shermonkal and president of the Dhaka University branch of Jatiyo Chhatra Shakti (JCS), was reportedly attacked with a machete while leaving Balishira Resort in the Radhanagar area. The incident, captured on video and later shared on Facebook, shows Hasib and a female companion boarding a battery‑run autorickshaw when a man allegedly approached, brandished a machete and lunged at them. Hasib jumped off the rickshaw and fled, sustaining a hand injury. Resort staff treated the wound with bandages before the pair attempted to continue their journey toward the railway station.

According to a resort employee who spoke on condition of anonymity, Hasib had been staying at the resort for the previous three days. The employee said that after the attack Hasib ran back into the resort, where staff applied first aid. The pair later left again in an autorickshaw toward the train station.

Efforts to reach Hasib for comment by phone were unsuccessful, according to the report.

Jatiyo Chhatra Shakti is the student wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP). Pritam Das, joint convener of the NCP’s central committee, whose residence is in Shermonkal, claimed that the banned Chhatra League was responsible for the assault. This allegation has not been independently verified.

Police officials in the area said they were aware of the incident but had not received a formal complaint. Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury, in‑charge of the Tourist Police’s Shermonkal zone, said the matter was being looked into.

The attacker’s identity remains unknown, and no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. Local residents expressed concern over the rising incidents of violence against student activists in the region.

The case is being investigated by the Shermonkal police station. Further action, including filing a formal complaint, will be taken once Hasib returns and provides a statement, according to local authorities.