Red Shirt Row: Identity of Attacker on Nurul Haq Nur Sparks Controversy
The identity of the man in a red T-shirt, widely discussed after the attack on Nurul Haq Nur, President of the Gono Adhikar Parishad and former VP of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has come under scrutiny. The man has been alleged to be a police constable.
On August 30, Saturday afternoon, a verified post from Nurul Haq Nur’s official Facebook page claimed, “The man in the red shirt is a police constable. His name is Mizanur Rahman, BP No. 9717197243. He attacked student leader Samrat.”
However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) chief Shafiqul Islam dismissed the claim, stating that the man in question was not a member of the DB. He added that the matter was under investigation.
Separately, Gono Adhikar Parishad’s General Secretary Rashed Khan echoed the same allegation in a Facebook post but clarified that “the man in the red shirt did not attack Nurul Haq Nur but student leader Samrat. There is no scope to justify the attack on Nurul Haq Nur and other leaders by blaming this individual. The army members who attacked Nurul must be held accountable. They even broke into our office, vandalized the bathroom, and left many leaders and activists bloodied.”
On Friday, August 29, around 11:20 p.m., Nur was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Doctors confirmed internal bleeding from head injuries, along with fractures in his nose and right jaw. He is currently in the ICU.
Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has spoken to Nur over the phone, assuring a thorough investigation and punishment for the perpetrators. Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman described the attack as “part of a deep conspiracy” and said, “The attack on Nur was a heinous act. Those involved must be brought under the law.”
The attack has drawn condemnation from various political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organizer of the National Citizen Party’s (NCP) Southern Division, also posted on Facebook, alleging that the assault was tied to “a rehabilitative plan” backed by India to bring back the Awami League through the Jatiya Party. He wrote, “In this game to reinstate fascism, Nur has given the first blood. If we fail to protest against this heinous attack, Bangladesh itself will bleed like Nur.”
BNP leader Ishraque Hossain posted, “Today Sheikh Hasina is gone, but in some places, there are attempts to resurrect Hasina and fascism. While protesting this conspiracy, VP Nur again had to face death. I pray to Almighty Allah for the speedy recovery of this brave leader. Ameen.”
Meanwhile, actor and television host Shahriar Nazim Joy stirred debate with a Facebook post about wanting to interview Nur. “I was supposed to interview VP Nur outdoors. But due to continuous rain, it was canceled. Get well soon. This time the interview will be deadly,” he wrote. The post drew criticism from Nur’s supporters, some calling it insensitive and others accusing him of seeking publicity.
The incident traces back to Friday evening when Gono Adhikar Parishad staged a rally demanding a ban on the Jatiya Party. The procession clashed with Jatiya Party activists in front of its central office, injuring General Secretary Rashed Khan. Later, Gono Adhikar Parishad organized a torch procession, during which over a hundred activists attempted to set fire to the Jatiya Party office and clashed with police. A police officer was injured by a brick during the confrontation, prompting the army to intervene.
Around 9:30 p.m., the Gono Adhikar Parishad called an emergency press conference. Shortly afterward, law enforcement chased down leaders near the party office, with members of the joint forces allegedly assaulting Nur and others.
