Jagannath University (JnU) students and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) took to the streets on Sunday night after fellow student and JCD leader Jobayed Hossen was found murdered in Old Dhaka’s Armanitola area.

Police recovered the body of Jobayed, a student of the 2019–20 academic session at the Department of Statistics and a member of the JnU JCD convening committee, from the stairway of a six-storey building in Armanitola’s Panir Pump Lane.

According to police and witnesses, locals discovered Jobayed’s blood-soaked body lying on the third-floor stairs. He had a deep stab wound on his neck. Seeing his Jagannath University jersey, they informed the university students and JCD members, who later identified him.

Witnesses said Jobayed was stabbed near the building’s entrance and tried to climb upstairs for help but collapsed on the third floor and died there. Blood stains were visible from the ground floor up to the third floor.

Bangshal Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said the forensic team arrived before the body was recovered. “We are investigating the cause of the stabbing,” he added.

Police have detained an HSC examinee whom Jobayed used to tutor in one of the flats in the same building. Some of his classmates alleged the girl might have links to the murder.

The girl was taken into custody under police and JCD supervision and brought to Bangshal Police Station. Central JCD President Rakibul Islam was present at the scene and urged protesters not to take the law into their own hands.

Before the suspect was taken to the station, students surrounded the main gate of Bangshal Police Station, prompting police to escort her through an alternative route. Police questioned her later that night.

“We respect the law, which is why we handed over the suspect to police. But our protest will continue until the real killers of Jobayed are arrested,” said Rakibul.

Protesting students blocked several key points in Old Dhaka, including Bahadur Shah Park, Shankharibazar intersection, and George Court area. Around midnight, they also blocked Tantibazar Road, set tyres on fire in front of Bangshal Police Station, and chanted slogans demanding justice for Jobayed.

Eyewitnesses claimed two men were involved in the killing and were seen fleeing toward Bangshal moments after the stabbing. CCTV footage circulating on social media showed two young men — one in a black T-shirt and the other in red, carrying black backpacks — running along Noor Box Road around 4:39 pm. Police suspect they are the assailants.

Lalbagh Zone Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mallick Ahsan Uddin Sami said several police teams are working to trace the suspects. “We have questioned all the residents of the building and the detained girl. We hope to unearth the motive soon,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dhaka University (DU) JCD unit brought out a protest procession at midnight, starting from the TSC area and marching around the campus before holding a brief rally.

DU JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahos described Jobayed as a “frontline fighter” of the July–August movement and blamed the authorities for failing to ensure student safety. “If Jobayed’s killers are not brought to justice, we will announce tougher protests,” he warned.

Expressing frustration, DU JCD leader and former DUCSU General Secretary candidate Tanvir Baree Hamim said, “We didn’t get justice for Samya or Parvez. Now we doubt if Jobayed’s murderers will ever face justice.”

Jagannath University authorities said they will take further steps after receiving the police report.

Proctor Professor Muhammad Tajammul Haque told, “The Police Bureau of Investigation is handling the case. The university will act based on their report.”

Visiting the crime scene, JnU Vice Chancellor Professor Md. Rezaul Karim alleged that the killing was premeditated and demanded swift identification and prosecution of those responsible.