Female students at Dhaka University were allegedly harassed and restricted from watching a FIFA World Cup match on a giant screen on campus, according to a report by the Times of Bangladesh. The incident has triggered protests, political criticism, and fresh scrutiny of Islami Chhatra Shibir — the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami — ahead of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections.

What Happened at Shahidullah Hall

The flashpoint occurred at the Shahidullah Hall ground during the Norway–France World Cup match, when a female student was allegedly subjected to harassment by members associated with the Shibir-backed panel. According to reports, student Muhtasin Billah Emon, of the 2018–19 session, alleged that he and his companions were forced to vacate the field on the night of 26 June despite having signed the official entry register. A female student accompanying the group was reportedly questioned about her presence and pressured to leave immediately.

One of the accused in the incident is reportedly Md. Saju Mia, the Hall Union's Social Services Secretary, who was elected on the Shibir-backed panel.

Students Protest in Solidarity

In response, a large number of female students gathered at the Shahidullah Hall field on the morning of 28 June to collectively watch the Argentina–Jordan World Cup match as an act of solidarity and defiance. Following the screening, students submitted a memorandum to the university proctor outlining three key demands, according to reports.

Earlier, on Sunday, girls had also gathered en masse to watch the Argentina–Jordan match, reportedly in direct defiance of the group's opposition to women spectating at the venue. Despite numerous complaints, Shibir is said to have taken no internal disciplinary action.

Political Criticism Mounts

DUCSU executive member Hema Chakma, representing the left-backed Pratirodh Parshad, condemned the student union's silence over the incidents and alleged that those involved appeared to have close ties with the top DUCSU leadership, where Shibir-backed candidates hold the maximum number of posts.

Seema Akhter, vice president of the university unit of Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, denounced the episode as part of what she described as a wider 'politics of control.' She criticised attempts to restrict women's movement after sunset in the name of security, calling them a reflection of patriarchal mentality that targets victims rather than holding offenders accountable.

Akhter also alleged that a coordinated campaign against women's rights activists has intensified since July last year, and that the DUCSU has consistently failed to act on recent harassment incidents.

The Contradiction at the Heart of Shibir's Campaign

The controversy arrives at a particularly sensitive moment for Shibir, which has been actively attempting to rebrand itself as a 'women-friendly' organisation ahead of the DUCSU elections. Critics argue the incidents at Shahidullah Hall expose a stark contradiction between that carefully cultivated public image and the ground reality on campus. This comes amid Bangladesh's broader reckoning with campus safety and women's rights — issues that have gained sharper political salience in recent months.

As pressure mounts on the DUCSU leadership to respond, the university administration's next steps will be closely watched by student groups and rights advocates alike.