RU student accuses 4 of blackmail over viral video

Rajshahi University is embroiled in a controversy after a female student held a press conference today alleging she and an associate professor were blackmailed for Tk 5 lakh following an incident in his office.

The finance student accused two student journalists and two Julycoordinators of extortion.

The four accused are Sirajul Islam Sumon, a mass communication and journalism student and university correspondent for Khabarer Kagoj; Sazzad Hossain Sajib from history department and university correspondent for Kalbela; and former July coordinators Mohammad Ataullah, an Institute of Business Administration (IBA) student, and Nazmus Saqib Tahmid, a law student from the 2017–18 academic year.

The female student, who declined to be named, said she visited the professor's chamber to discuss her studies when several people entered, touched her—causing her scarf to fall—and began recording a video.

"I was terrified. I hid under a table, wrapped myself in a towel, and fled," she told reporters.

The student claimed that the accused threatened to release the video on social media unless the professor paid Tk 5 lakh.

According to her, the professor withdrew Tk 1 lakh via an automated teller machine (ATM) and paid on the first day and Tk 2 lakh the next.

Later that day at 12:30pm, Sumon and Sajib held a counter press conference denying all allegations.

They said they had entered the chamber on May 11—acting with the proctor's permission—after a faculty tip-off, only to find the student hiding.

They claimed the professor himself called her out, and that she begged them not to publish the video, even threatening suicide.

"We respected her plea and did not release the footage," they said, adding that no financial transaction had taken place and claimed that the video circulating online had come from an unknown source.

According to them, the extortion allegations are intended to "distract attention from the original incident".

Proctor Md Mahbubor Rahman confirmed that the student had filed a police complaint and said the police would handle the investigation.

"She didn't inform the university administration. If police seek assistance from us, we will certainly cooperate," Mahbubor said.

Boalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Malek told The Daily Star that a general diary has been lodged and an investigation will begin soon.

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced on social media on May 15, purportedly showing the professor seated at his desk with his face in his hands, while the student stood across the table, covering her face with a towel. The footage sparked widespread reactions both on campus and online.

Both sides now await the outcome of the police probe.