NN ONLINE:
A Dhaka court ordered North South University (NSU) student Apurba Pal to jail on Sunday, October 5, in a case filed under Section 295A of the Penal Code for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by desecrating the Quran. The decision came hours after he was attacked by a mob outside his residence in Dhaka’s Bashundhara area.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman issued the order after police produced Apurba and requested remand. The investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md Chand Ali, told the court that both evidence and witness statements indicate Apurba “threw a copy of the Quran to the floor and trampled it.” He added that Apurba reportedly admitted the act during preliminary questioning.
Police argued that releasing him on bail could lead to flight, and said remand might be sought later if further questioning is needed. After the hearing, the court remanded him to jail custody.
Earlier in the day, Vatara Police arrested Apurba after social media posts from his account, “Apurba Rad,” circulated online showing him disrespecting the Quran. The viral footage prompted public outrage and calls for his arrest, with a crowd gathering outside his home around 1 a.m.
When police attempted to take him into custody, the mob turned violent and assaulted him. Additional officers were deployed, and police managed to pull him from the crowd around 2:45 a.m. He was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment, though the extent of his injuries was not clearly reported.
Vatara Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Rakibul Hasan said the case is under Section 295A, which carries up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both for acts intended to outrage religious feelings. “We found evidence in several videos on his Facebook profile showing disrespect to the Quran,” he noted, adding that the crowd resisted detention.
Expulsion from North South University
Within hours of his arrest, North South University announced Apurba Pal’s permanent expulsion over the Quran incident. The decision was reached at an emergency meeting of the university’s disciplinary committee on Sunday afternoon, according to a press release signed by Syed Mansur Hashim, NSU’s Director of Public Relations.
The university stated that the incident occurred on campus on Saturday, with witnesses describing Apurba desecrating a copy of the Quran. NSU’s proctorial body and security staff stepped in to restore order. The statement commended students for maintaining a peaceful and harmonious environment during the event.
The disciplinary committee ruled for permanent expulsion and also said the university would file a separate case regarding the incident.
Apurba, enrolled in the Department of Media, Communication and Journalism, had previously received a temporary expulsion for disciplinary violations. A department colleague noted that he had originally joined the Computer Science and Engineering program before switching to journalism, citing irregular attendance and concerning behavior.
A faculty member, Asif Bin Ali, wrote on Facebook that Apurba had converted to Islam in late 2023 and changed his name after conversion. “He was my student. By late 2023, he embraced Islam and began practicing the faith,” Asif stated.
He added that Apurba had been grappling with drug addiction and mental health issues, which contributed to his earlier expulsion in 2024. Although he had been allowed to resume studies, his condition reportedly did not improve.
“This incident is not part of any organized conspiracy,” Asif said. “What he needs now is rehabilitation, not punishment.”
As the legal process unfolds, Apurba remains in jail facing potential charges under Bangladesh’s laws on religious insult, and questions remain about whether his behavior reflected deliberate intent or deeper psychological distress.
