The investigation into the tragic killing of Dhaka University (DU) student Shahriar Alam Samya has progressed further as law enforcement authorities arrested three additional individuals late Tuesday night (20 May). This brings the total number of people detained in connection with the case to six, according to a statement released by the university administration on Wednesday.
Samya, a student at the Institute of Education and Research (IER) and a leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), was fatally stabbed on the night of 13 May at Suhrawardy Udyan. The initial three arrests took place soon after the incident, sparking hope for swift justice among his family, friends, and the wider university community.
In the wake of the murder, Dhaka University confirmed it has maintained active communication with the authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and prosecuted as quickly as possible. The administration emphasized that it is committed to assisting the investigation in any way necessary to achieve justice for the victim.
On Wednesday morning, Samya’s father, Md. Fakhrul Alam, visited the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, at his office. During the emotional meeting, he expressed appreciation for the university’s empathy and active role in pushing for justice. He was accompanied by Samya’s three brothers—S.A.M. Amirul Islam, S.A.M. Shariful Alam, and S.A.M. Shahidul Alam—as well as university officials including Treasurer Professor Dr. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan assured the family that the university is working impartially and without political bias to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. He pledged continued support to the grieving family and vowed that the university community would remain by their side throughout the legal process.
Samya was the Literary and Publication Secretary of the Chhatra Dal unit at A.F. Rahman Hall. He was known as a thoughtful, articulate, and engaged student whose sudden death has plunged the university into mourning. Students across faculties and political affiliations have come together to demand justice, expressing shock and outrage at the violence that claimed one of their own.
The murder has raised broader concerns about student safety and the presence of violence in and around educational institutions. Samya’s family and fellow students have called for a transparent investigation, the immediate arrest of all involved, and exemplary punishment to deter similar crimes in the future.
While the recent arrests mark progress in the case, the motives behind the attack remain under investigation. The university administration has emphasized that the case must proceed swiftly and fairly to uphold trust in justice.
