DU Library Staff Granted Bail After Arrest Over Harassing Female Student

Mostofa Asif, a bookbinder at Dhaka University (DU) library, who was arrested for harassing a female student, has been granted bail.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mehra Mahbub issued the bail order today (March 6) upon completion of the hearing, setting bail at a bond of Tk 1,000.

A crowd identifying themselves as “Tawhidi Janata” gathered outside the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, where Mostofa was presented. As news of his release broke, the group erupted in celebration.

The arrest had sparked a late-night protest on Wednesday outside Shahbagh Police Station, where a group – mostly young men – staged a sit-in, blocking the entrance and demanding Mostofa’s release. 

The DU administration handed Mostofa over to Shahbagh police on Wednesday evening after he reportedly admitted to verbally abusing a female student for not wearing her scarf "properly." The student initially lodged a complaint with the DU proctor before filing a formal case with police.