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February 08, 2026 – India –
A third-year student journalist at Jahangirnagar University (JU) alleges he was assaulted and harassed while performing reporting duties on campus, prompting him to file an official complaint with university authorities on 9 February 2026. The incident has raised concerns among colleagues and administrators about the safety of student reporters covering news events on campus.
Arifur Rahman, who serves as the university correspondent for bdnews24.com and is a student in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, said the attack occurred on the night of 6 February near Shaheed Minar Road inside JU’s campus. Rahman told The Daily Star that while he was collecting news, he was surrounded by a group of students, including Mohammad Imon, a member of the Department of Public Health and Informatics, Md Sahanur Rahman Sanju from the Department of Philosophy, and Imon Babu of the Department of Bangla, along with several unidentified individuals.
According to Rahman, he immediately identified himself as a journalist, but the group began harassing him. He said Imon forcibly seized his mobile phone and began examining his recorded footage without permission. A struggle ensued when members of the group attempted to seize his camera, during which Rahman says his camera body and lens were damaged.
Rahman further alleged that after he reported the incident to university authorities, the same group returned later that night and subjected him to additional harassment and intimidation. He said he was attacked twice on the same evening and that his attackers also launched a campaign against him online by creating fake Facebook pages and accounts aimed at damaging his reputation.
In response to the physical and digital harassment, Rahman filed a formal complaint with the office of the JU proctor, seeking administrative action against those he accused. Proctor AKM Rashidul Alam confirmed that the university will investigate the matter and form a probe committee to examine the allegations. Alam stated that disciplinary measures will be taken against anyone found guilty after the investigation.
One of the accused, Imon Babu, denied the allegations, saying he was attempting to mediate an argument between students rather than commit an assault. Other individuals named in the complaint could not be reached for comment despite repeated attempts.
The attack on a student journalist underscores ongoing concerns about the safety and security of media workers, including those in educational settings, where reporters may face hostility while covering contentious situations or disputes.
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