SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: June 16, 2025

Attack Types: Other

Institution(s):Dhaka University

Region & Country:Southern Asia | Bangladesh

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On June 16, 2025, unknown assailants detonated two crude bombs in front of a dormitory at Dhaka University (DU). Seven additional bombs were found in front of the university’s annex building.

The DU Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed the presence of the bombs, stating that campus security responded quickly and notified Shahbagh Police Station. The bomb disposal unit was called in and successfully removed the devices. No injuries were reported.

Police opened an investigation. Some media reports alleged that the incident could have been linked to the Chhatra League, a banned student organization.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about violent and destructive attacks on campus, apparently intended to prevent the functioning of a higher education institution. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/383921/cocktail-explosion-near-du-hall-seven-more
https://viewsbangladesh.com/cocktail-explosions-at-du-7-more-devices-recovered/