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The arrestees have been sent to jail after they were produced before a court, the SI, also the investigation officer of the case, said.

Police will seek remand today, he added.

Shammo, 25, was the literature and publication secretary of the JCD’s Sir AF Rahman Hall unit and a student of the 2018–19 session at the Institute of Education and Research. He lived in Room 222 of the hall.

He hailed from Ullapara in Sirajganj.

On Tuesday night, Shammo was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with stab injuries, where doctors declared him dead.

As the news of Shammo’s murder spread, agitated students barricaded the residence of the VC in the early hours of yesterday, resulting in a brief altercation between the VC, Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, and the students.

Yesterday, Shammo’s father Fakhrul Alam broke down in tears after seeing his son’s body at the hospital.

“My son was a gentle boy. Why would outsiders kill him? I demand the highest punishment for his killers,” he said.

After the first namaz-e-janaza at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University, Shammo’s body was taken to Ullapara. He will be laid to rest at his family’s graveyard after a second janaza there, said sources close to his family.

Yesterday, JCD brought out processions on campus demanding justice and calling for increased student safety.

Leaders of the BNP-affiliated student wing also held a demonstration in front of the VC’s residence and demanded the resignation of the VC, proctor, and the home adviser.

“As the highest guardian of the university, the vice-chancellor cannot avoid responsibility for this murder. We demand the resignation of both the proctor and the VC,” said Nasir Uddin Nasir, general secretary of the JCD’s central committee.

He also demanded the resignation of the home adviser, accusing him of failing to prevent similar incidents.

In a statement, the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir also condemned the killing.

Meanwhile, DU authorities, expressing deep sorrow over the tragic death, yesterday said a day of mourning will be observed today on the campus.

Classes and examinations will be suspended for half a day today, it added.

The DU authorities have formed a seven-member committee to investigate the death. The committee has been requested to submit its investigation report within the next three working days.

Meanwhile, the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed White Panel teachers at DU demanded justice for those involved in the murder.

In a statement, it urged the authorities to take visible measures to enhance campus safety and demanded that the government assume responsibility for Shammo’s family.

The killing of a university student on the DU campus may be part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise the university and the country, especially at a time when citizens nationwide are calling for a national election, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the DU authorities, after a meeting with law enforcers and other stakeholders, decided to permanently close the Suhrawardy Udyan’s gate near the Raju Sculpture, evict nearby vendors, and begin regular anti-crime and anti-narcotics raids to curb rising violence and drug abuse.

“Seventy percent of crime activities linked to Dhaka University occur in Suhrawardy Udyan, as seen in the ‘Proloy Gang’ issue and many others,” said Asif Mahmud, adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, who took part in the meeting.

“We discussed transitioning Suhrawardy Udyan into a regulated public space like Ramna Park,” the adviser added.

Suhrawardy Udyan will remain shut after 8:00pm, he said.

After the meeting, the VC said efforts to control external traffic around the campus had to be scaled back as concerns were raised over personal freedom.