2002 Police raid Shamsunnahar Hall refers to a raid byBangladesh police on Shamsunnahar Hall of theUniversity of Dhaka on 23 July 2002. The raid injured 200 students and is remembered as the Shamsunnahar Hall Tragedy day in Bangladesh.[1][2]
In 2002Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in power. The students of Shamsunnahar Hall of the University of Dhaka were protesting against the unauthorised stay of leaders ofJatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the BNP, at the dormitory.[2]
The police raided the dorm in the middle of the night on 23 July 2002.[3] Residents of the dorms were dragged out by police officers and assaulted.[4] The police were joined in the raid by leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.[5]
The attack was protested throughout the university the following day.[6] ProfessorAnwarullah Chowdhury, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, was forced to resign following the raid.[7] The proctor of the university resigned as well.[8] Prime MinisterKhaleda Zia ordered the formation of a commission to investigate the incident. The one man commission was made up of JusticeM Tafazzul Islam. The probe report blamed the incident on Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdur Rahim of Bangladesh Police and the officials of University of Dhaka.[9] The raid was led by Police officerKohinoor Mian.[10]
In 2003, the first anniversary of the raid,Bangladesh Chhatra League carried out a candlelight procession at theCentral Shahid Minar. Students Against Repression submitted a memorandum to vice chancellorSyed Muhammed Abul Faiz calling for action against those responsible.[11] The day of the raid is remembered as Shamsunnahar Hall Tragedy day.[12][13]