Killing of Nahid Hossain

On 19 April 2022, Nahid Hossain, a courier delivery worker, died after being beaten during a clash between Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area of Dhaka. The conflict began on the night of 18 April 2022 as a dispute between shopkeepers and students at a local eatery near New Market and escalated into a large-scale confrontation. Members of the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, were reportedly involved in the violence, which caused several injuries. Hossain, who was passing by his workplace, was attacked by a group of assailants on suspicion of supporting the shopkeepers during the clash.

The fighting continued through the night and into the next day, with more than 50 people injured. Video footage showed Hossain being attacked by a group of men wearing helmets and wielding machetes, leaving him critically injured. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died from his injuries later that day. Another person, a shop worker named Morsalin, also died after being struck by a brick during the same clashes.

Following the incident, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police launched an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage to identify the attackers. Six Dhaka College students were named as prime suspects in the case. The assailants were reportedly linked to the Chhatra League. Among those charged was Bashar Emon, a second-year Bangla department student, whom police identified as one of the primary attackers and accused of striking Hossain with a machete. Police conducted multiple raids at Dhaka College dormitories, but the suspects evaded capture until late April. On 24 April, two of the four identified attackers were taken into custody, and by 28 April five Dhaka College students were remanded for two days for further questioning.

The suspects were charged with murder under the Bangladesh Penal Code. As of mid-2023, the trial was still ongoing, with Emon and others being prosecuted. The case attracted widespread attention due to the nature of the violence and the involvement of students affiliated with political groups, and Hossain's death prompted a broader national response concerning violence associated with student political organizations.

In response to the incident, Dhaka College formed a probe committee on 26 April 2022 to investigate whether its students were involved in the clashes of 18 April, stating that the committee was established in accordance with academic regulations.