Juta, Cuta protest RU teacher killing

Teachers of Jahangirnagar and Chittagong universities yesterday formed human chains demanding an immediate arrest of the killers of Rajshahi University Prof AFM Rezaul Karim Siddiquee, under the banners of JU and CU teachers association on their universities' Central Shaheed Minar premises.

JU teachers, wearing black badges, also submitted a memorandum to the prime minister, home minister and education minister through Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam to press home their demands.

“The frequent murder of university teachers is a threat…security measures need to be reinforced,” said Prof Ajit Kumar, president of Jahangirnagar University Teachers Association (Juta).

Prof Bashir Ahmed, Juta secretary, Mehedi Iqbal, assistant proctor, and Prof Samsul Alam Selim, also spoke.

Meanwhile, CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury demanded exemplary punishment so that no one dared to commit such heinous crime.

University Grants Commission member Prof Moinul Islam said, “There is a culture of impunity prevailing…these kinds of killing has increased alarmingly.” 

Kazi SM Khasrul Alam, general secretary of Chittagong University Teachers Association (Cuta), said the teachers feel insecure following the killing.

Cuta President Prof Abul Manchur, CU Pro-VC Prof Shirin Akhter, Benu Kumar Dey, Prof Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Prof Sekandar Khan, Prof Arun Kanti Dey, and Prof Danesh Mia, also spoke.

The 58-year-old professor of English was killed by miscreants in Shalbagan area of Rajshahi city on April 23.