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20 March 2025
To
The Honorable Vice Chancellor
University of Dhaka
Subject: Prayer for getting the suspension/expulsion decision reviewed and
permission for resuming academic activities.
Dear Sir,
I, Md. Fahim Shahriar, a student of the 48th batch currently studying in LL.B. Final
year, Department of Law, University of Dhaka, do hereby solemnly affirm and
declare as follows:
1. That I was born in a remote village located in Dinajpur and my mother
died when my age was only two in 2004. After the incident of my
mother’s early death, I have brought up in my maternal uncle’s family
since my father could not look after and take care of me due to his
poverty. After an immense struggle and hard work I got chance in the
Department of Law, University of Dhaka. I got allotment at Kabi
Jasimuddin Hall which is very much infamous for its lack of capacity to
accommodate students in legal seats. Since I have economic constraints
and have no relatives in Dhaka and coming from a distant part of the
country, I had no alternative except taking shelter in the infamous
graveyard like gonoroom of Kabi Jasimuddin Hall operated by the
Chattra League. For which I was bound to join their programs and
activities even though I had classes and exams. If I did not join any
program, I was scolded and slapped by the Hall Chattra League activists
in several time even though I made excuse of my Final exams. I stayed
in the gonoroom during my first two years and on the floor in my third
year, due to lack of a proper allocated seat. In pursuit of securing a legal
place of stay (as it was made a culture by the Chattra League), I became
involved in faculty-based student politics under the Bangladesh Chhatra
League, specifically aligning with the North-Bengal region student
group of Jasimuddin Hall led by Hall Chattra League candidates
Hadayetul Islam (Department of Mass Communication and Journalism,
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session- 2017-18) and Ashik (Department of International Relations,

session- 2017-18).

2. That on July 15, around 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM, I was standing on the
third floor of Jasimuddin Hall, observing a clash that erupted on
the hall field. I was preparing to leave for my village that day as I
had completed my third-year final examinations and had not visited
home a long since. It is further stated that after a while as I
proceeded towards the VC Chattar with my seniors, including
Arafatul Osmani of the 45th batch of the Department of Law, I
encountered candidate Ashik, who threatened me with a hockey
stick and forcibly compelled me to join a rally. After I showed my
reluctance, Ashik came and hit me with the hockey stick in front of
his friends including Arafatul Osmani. Then I complied on his
direction out of fear for my personal safety. When I join their rally
I was further coerced by Ashik who shouted at me, saying, “লািঠ লুিঠ
লস না কন ব াটা”. To avoid immediate harm, I picked up an
unbalanced tree branch from the ground but at no point did I
engage in any act of violence. I did not and could not inflict harm
upon my fellow, seniors, juniors and friends.

3. That it is stated that when the rally progressed from VC chattar

through Fuller Road and reached the Dhaka Medical College
Emergency intersection, clashes intensified near Dr. Muhammad
Shahidullah Hall. At that moment, I extricated myself from the rally
and returned to the Law Department premises, arriving in front of
the Bangladesh Law Association office around 5:10 PM. I called Mr.
Mokhtar Ahmed, Senior Administrative Officer, Department of
Law at 5:15 PM, requesting him to open the office of Bangladesh
Law Association so that I could remain safely indoors until the
unrest subsided. Upon his inability to come immediately, I returned
to the hall by rickshaw, collected a few personal belongings, and
relocated to a senior’s residence in Mohammadpur. That night, I
traveled to Kamalapur Railway Station and boarded a train
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Panchagarh Express to Dinajpur. All these movements can be

verified through CCTV footage available at the Law Department
and Jasimuddin Hall.

4. That it is further stated that driven by conscience and realizing the

gravity of the situation, I resigned from my position as Library
Secretary of the Law Faculty Chhatra League on July 15, via both
a Facebook post and a direct phone call to the president of the
organization. Despite assurances of protection, I made an
independent decision to dissociate from all political activities.
Thereafter, I publicly extended my support for the Anti-
Discrimination Student Movement, an initiative I had always
morally supported but could not previously express due to my then-
political association and fear of eviction from the hall. That same
night, I unconditionally apologized to my batchmates and senior
well-wishers, acknowledging my presence in the rally and
expressing sincere remorse, despite not committing any act of
violence. And my batchmates have unwaveringly extended their
support and appreciated for my clear stance against the incident of
act of violence occasioned by the Chhattra League on 15th July,
2024.

5. That it is stated that after the July Revolution, two police cases were
filed by the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement
against more than 600 activists of Bangladesh Chattra League after their
sincere scrutiny of the true fact and my name was not included in either
cases.

6. That it is submitted that after the July Revolution a Truth Finding

Committee was formed to investigate into the act of violence occurred
at the University of Dhaka. During the investigation, I was neither
informed by the investigating authority for a single time yet I have been
staying in my hall, doing classes, appearing exams, taking part with
flood rescue team of the Department of Law, making as usual
interactions with friends and enjoying batch tour with them. It is further
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submitted that it is clear that it is a bonafide mistake and

misunderstanding of the Truth Finding Committee to make myself a
"scapegoat" where I was not in any way involved in the act of violence
in 15th July incident at the Dhaka University Campus. But those who are
really involved in the act of violence have not any moral stance to come
class and campus. As a conscious law abiding citizen, being a law
student and cherishing utmost respect for democracy, I wholeheartedly
appreciate the hard works of the Truth Finding Committee and if
required I will extend my utmost assistance by every sorts of necessary
information.

7. That it is submitted that a well-established principle expounded by Lord

Denning in Retarded Children's Aid Society v Day [1978] IRLR 128 at
130 that "it is good sense and reasonable that in the ordinary way for a
first offence you should not dismiss a man on the instant without any
warning or giving him a further chance." In this instant case where I was
not involved in the clash of 15th July, 2024 and repeatedly made my
stand clear among my batchmate friends and they had cordially accepted
me after knowing the true facts as I corroborated the fact again and again
at the very moment of the incident of violence on 15th July.

8. That it is submitted that following the events, I have been listed among
those expelled, which I believe to be a bonafide mistake or
misunderstanding given the circumstances of coercion, threat, hit by
hockey stick by Hall Candidate Ashik and my subsequent conduct. After
having seen my name in the list of expelled students, my batchmates and
I received a bolt from the blue. Subsequently, my bathcmats protested
on social media and assured they will not accept the decision against me.
I have sought assistance and advice of the Student Advisers and some
other respected teachers of the Department of Law following the
incident, all of the teachers assured me that justice will be served and
not to be worried.

9. That it is further submitted that my LL.B. final year examinations are

scheduled to commence on May 4, 2025 for which I have prepared
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extensively and performed well in in-course assessments, significantly

better than in previous years which I could not do well previously due
to a myriad reasons including the torture at guestroom and programs of
the Chhattra League during my study times.

10.It is further submitted that my poor family is waiting in expectation that

after my graduation I will bear the burden of my family. The actions
taken against me, I submit, are based on bonafide mistake or
misunderstanding and lack of information of my subsequent conduct
during the said incident.

Wherefore, I humbly pray that considering the given facts and

circumstances and my lack of direct involvement in any violence,
I respectfully seek the guidance and intervention of the
Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Dhaka University
Administration and also the concerned Truth Finding Committee
to review my case, consider revoking any punitive action against
me and allow me to perform in all academic activities including
classes and exams.

I am fully committed to upholding the integrity of this institution and humbly pray
for justice so that I may complete my academic pursuits without the burden of an
unwarranted expulsion. And for such act of kindness I shall be duty bound to ever
pray.

Eye-Witness: Arafatul Osmani,

batch 45, Department of Law
Attachments: All necessary
documents and screenshots
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Reverently,

Md. Fahim Shahriar

Student,
LL.B. Final Year,
48th Batch
Department of Law
University of Dhaka