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Apurba Pal, a North South University student in Dhaka, was arrested and expelled for allegedly insulting the Quran. Nasreen condemned the actions and called for his release.
Police detained Pal from his residence in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area early Sunday. (Image: X/@taslimanasreen)
A student of North South University in Dhaka was arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a social media post. The youth, identified as Apurba Pal, was also expelled from the institute over allegations of insulting the Quran, the holy book of Islam.
According to multiple media reports, Pal was reportedly beaten by a violent mob while being taken to the police station.
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Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has voiced strong support for Pal, calling the actions against him “uncivilized, barbaric, violent, and ignorant.”
In a post on X, Nasreen wrote, “For allegedly insulting the Quran, North South University student Apurba Pal has been expelled from the university. The police have arrested him. While being taken to the police station, he was attacked by barbaric Muslims. A group of fanatical Muslims has destroyed his life.”
Calling for his immediate release from police custody, she insisted that Pal should be allowed to resume his education. She also urged authorities to take action against those who attacked him, stating, “Those who attacked him must be brought to justice.”
Nasreen further emphasized the need to promote scientific thinking and protect freedom of expression, saying, “Society must be freed from religious fanaticism. People must be encouraged to develop a scientific mindset. It must be accepted as normal that religious feelings can be hurt. Violating freedom of speech and expression must be declared unjust. And all laws that suppress free speech must be abolished (sic).”
Facebook Post Triggers Outrage
According to local news outlet bdnews24.com, police detained Pal from his residence in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area early Sunday after a Facebook post allegedly insulting the Quran triggered outrage online and in the local community.
Following the assault, he was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The unrest began late Saturday night when a video circulated on Facebook, accompanied by claims that Apurba had made a blasphemous post. As the video spread, calls for his arrest intensified. By around 1am on Sunday, a crowd had gathered outside his home demanding action, the outlet reported.
Police responded and initially sought the cooperation of the crowd to take Apurba into custody. The group agreed at first, allowing officers to enter the house and detain him.
However, as police attempted to escort Apurba away, the crowd turned violent and began attacking him. When officers tried to intervene, the mob turned on the police as well. The situation quickly escalated, prompting the authorities to call for additional reinforcements to restore order.
About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18…Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18… Read More
Dhaka, Bangladesh
October 06, 2025, 09:14 IST
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