Pro-BNP teacher assaulted on SC premises
Unidentified persons assaulted Prof Mahbubullah, a pro-BNP former teacher of Dhaka University, on the Supreme Court premises yesterday.
The 68-year-old economist came under attack near the east gate of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Auditorium around 1:30pm.
He was leaving the venue after attending the launching of a book titled “Bangladesh: Emergency and the Aftermath 2007-2008,” written by BNP leader and former law minister Moudud Ahmed.
Mahbubullah said he could not identify the attackers.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, however, accused the “cadres” of the Awami League and the Chhatra League for the attack.
Following the attack, Mahbubullah, who now teaches at a private university, went to a programme attended by Khaleda at the nearby Institution of Engineers, wearing the shirt torn in the attack.
There, he recounted the attack.
“As I came out of the auditorium, four to five men surrounded me. They punched me heavily, hit me on the upper part of eyes and knocked me down. They fled the scene once our people reached there.
“I am a teacher. To the best of my knowledge, I have no enemy ... After being attacked on the Supreme Court premises, I realise no civilised person can live in this country,” he said, adding, “This is a criminal attack ... I want justice."
Later, he was admitted to Labaid Specialised Hospital in the capital. From there, one of his relatives told The Daily Star over the phone that Mahbubullah was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit to determine whether he had suffered any heart attack following the attack.
“He suffered injuries in the upper part of right eye and head,” said the relative, declining to specify his relation with the professor or give his name.
Before Mahbubullah's speech at the pro-BNP Association of Engineers' programme, Khaleda Zia said, “Criminals attacked Professor Mahbubullah a few minutes ago ... The incident proves there is no security of people's life in our country. We condemn it and demand immediate arrest of the attackers.”
She added, “We want to see the government taking proper steps to arrest those who attacked Professor Mahbubullah. Otherwise, we will assume that the attack was carried out on instructions of Sheikh Hasina.”
Meanwhile, SCBA Superintendent Nimesh Chandra Das lodged a general diary with Shahbagh Police Station in connection with the attack.
SCBA President Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, in a release, described the incident as a "pre-planned and political attack" and demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators.
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