Secular Freethinker

A student at North South University (NSU) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, named Apurba Pal, was involved in an incident where he desecrated the Holy Quran. This event caused a lot of anger among the public, leading to his arrest, expulsion from the university, and legal actions. Apurba has a history of mental health problems, which some people say played a role in what happened. This report puts together information from the given links and other web sources to explain the full story in simple terms.

Details of the Incident
The incident took place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at around 9:00 AM, outside the NAC-2 building on the NSU campus in Dhaka. Apurba Pal, a 22-year-old eighth-semester student in the media, communication, and journalism department, threw a copy of the Quran on the ground, trampled on it, tore its pages, and sat outside a classroom while doing this. He also uploaded videos of the act to his Facebook profile, where he called the Quran a “delusion” and said it was “made to show the way to hell,” while kicking it. These videos went viral on social media on the night of October 4, 2025, sparking widespread outrage.

Background on Apurba Pal
Apurba Pal had been facing personal and mental health challenges before the incident. He converted to Islam to marry a Muslim girl, but the relationship ended soon after, and his family abandoned him because of the conversion. This led to isolation and emotional pain. Teachers who knew him described his behavior as erratic; he started wearing religious clothes like a robe, turban, and eye shadow, and used strict Islamic phrases. People at the university called him a “madman” or “drug addict” due to gossip. He had also been temporarily expelled from NSU earlier for breaking discipline rules. One teacher remembered Apurba saying, “Sir, I don’t understand what’s happening to me. Sometimes I don’t remember what I do.” A mental health expert noted that such trauma from rejection could cause mental illness and suggested universities need better support for students’ mental health.

Public Reaction and Arrest
The videos caused thousands of people on social media to demand Apurba’s arrest and strong punishment, with some calling for him to be hanged. An angry mob gathered outside his home in the Bashundhara residential area in Dhaka at about 1:00 AM on Sunday, October 5, 2025. When police from Vatara station tried to arrest him, the crowd became violent and attacked Apurba. More police were called, and they rescued him at around 2:45 AM on October 5, 2025, before taking him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. During this, Apurba apologized to the crowd, folding his hands and admitting his mistake. Groups like Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh demanded harsh punishment for him.
University Actions

NSU held an emergency meeting on the night of October 4, 2025, and another two-hour meeting on Sunday morning, October 5, 2025, with religious representatives. They decided to permanently expel Apurba and file a police complaint for punishment. The university also introduced new rules, like an anti-blasphemy code of conduct to suspend students for spreading Islamophobia or negative comments about the Prophet Muhammad or the Quran. They planned regular Quran conferences, made Islamic discussion areas accessible, and considered adding an “Introduction to Islamic Studies” course if students wanted it. NSU’s Public Relations Director, Syed Mansur Hashim, said these steps were to keep peace and religious harmony on campus.

Legal Proceedings
A case was filed against Apurba under Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act and section 295A for deliberately outraging religious feelings, which can lead to up to two years in prison, a fine, or both. On October 5, 2025, Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Saifuzzaman ordered him to jail after sub-inspector Md Chand Ali presented him in court. Later, on October 14, 2025, the court approved a five-day police remand for questioning. On Sunday, October 19, 2025, Apurba gave a voluntary confessional statement before magistrate Md Sefat Ullah, admitting to the desecration, and was sent back to jail. The investigation officer was sub-inspector Chand Mia, and the case was filed by SI Hasmat Ali from Vatara Police Station. Vatara police OC Rakibul Hasan confirmed evidence from the videos. Home adviser Md Jahangir Alam said an investigation was ongoing.

Overall Context
This case shows the tension of religious sensitivities in Bangladesh. While many demanded strict punishment, some highlighted the need for mental health support in universities. The university felt pressured by religious groups and the public, leading to quick changes in their policies. As of now, Apurba remains in jail, and the case is still under investigation.