Student questioned, released after bottle hurled at Advisor Mahfuj

The Detective Branch (DB) of police has questioned a student after a plastic water bottle was thrown at Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam during a protest by students of Jagannath University.

Mohammad Hossain, identified only by name, was interrogated at the DB office on Minto Road on Friday afternoon, said DMP spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman.

The student was later released to his family, he added.

Police identified him as a university student but shared no further details.

Another officer said Hossain was taken into custody on Thursday night.

The incident took place on Wednesday night when teachers and students of Jagannath University, marching from their Old Dhaka campus towards the chief advisor’s residence, staged a sit-in at the Kakrail Mosque intersection to press for three demands, including a resolution to the housing crisis.

Mahfuj arrived at the protest site that night to “convince the demonstrators and send them back”.

While he was addressing them around 10am, a plastic bottle flew in from the crowd and hit him in the head.

Earlier, the protesters complained to the advisor that police had attacked the students.

After being hit on the head, Mahfuj said: "You have justified the position of police by your misdeeds.”