Tragedy struck Khulna’s academic community after a private university undergraduate lost his life following a brutal assault inside a student residence in the Islam Nagar area.
The victim, identified as 22-year-old Md Ajmol Hossain, was a first-year English language and literature student at North Western University in Khulna. Hailing from Boro Solua village under the Damurhuda upazila of Chuadanga district, Ajmol was the son of Md Kutub Uddin.
According to family members and local sources, the confrontation escalated from a minor breach of residential dining etiquette. The tragedy unfolded on Friday evening at a rented student mess located on the upper floors of a five-storey building owned by a local resident named Akib. Standard residential regulations at the property required occupants to give two hours’ advance notice to the mess management to reserve their daily meals. Ajmol reportedly consumed a portion of food allocated for another resident without prior notice, triggering an immediate argument among his flatmates.
What began as a verbal altercation quickly descended into severe violence. Aggrieved housemates forcefully dragged Ajmol to the rooftop of the five-storey complex, where he was subjected to a prolonged physical assault. His attackers shaved his head during the ordeal. At one point during the violence, Ajmol fell from the roof under circumstances currently being investigated by law enforcement agencies. He was rescued in a critical condition and rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Detailing the events leading to the tragedy, the victim’s father, Md Kutub Uddin, stated that his son had telephoned him at approximately 9:00 pm on the night of the incident. Ajmol informed him that fellow residents were accusing him of eating without permission and stealing money.
“When I spoke to the other occupants over the phone to calm the situation, they demanded a sum of 100,000 Bangladeshi Taka from me,” the father recounted. “I assured them that I would resolve the matter personally and pleaded with them not to harm my son.”
The cook employed at the mess confirmed that she had prepared the meals as usual and left them for the boarders. She noted that Ajmol had later admitted to eating the meal without providing prior notification when questioned by his flatmates. She subsequently heard that the assault was triggered by accusations involving the unauthorized consumption of food, as well as alleged thefts of money, a mobile phone, and a laptop.
Local police authorities have launched a formal criminal investigation into the homicide. Md Iqbal Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Harintana Police Station, confirmed that preliminary on-site inquiries corroborated the allegations of a fatal beating. Officers inspecting the scene seized several wooden batons from the rooftop, which are believed to have been used in the assault.
“We have submitted an official application for the call detail records of the victim’s phone to verify the extortion demand made to his father,” stated the police official. He added that a comprehensive inquiry is underway to trace every individual involved and establish the exact sequence of events leading to the student’s death.
The university administration expressed deep shock at the incident, describing the death as highly suspicious and demanding immediate, stringent legal action against those responsible. Meanwhile, the body remained at the Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for an official post-mortem examination before being handed over to the grieving family for burial.
