HSTU Double Murder Case: PM promises justice after four years of zero progress

Two students of Hajee Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur were killed during BCL infighting in April, 2015. It has been over four years, but there has been zero progress in their murder cases.

On Monday, families of the murdered students -- Md Zakaria and Mahmudul Hasan Milton -- met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gono Bhaban in the capital. The PM handed over cheques of Tk 10 lakh to each family.

“We have been scrambling from door to door to get justice for the death of our son,” said Zakaria’s father Md Golam Mostafa. He said he has already visited law enforcement agencies and the home ministry with his demand.

“The PM pledged that justice will be delivered,” said Md Golam Mostafa.

Milton’s parents Mahubar Rahman and Rebeka Begum said they are more hopeful after the PM’s assurance. “We demanded capital punishment for the killers,” said Zakaria’s mother Zinnatun Begum.

Zakaria was a second-year student of business administration, while Milton was a final-year student of agriculture. On April 16, 2015, a faction of campus BCL organised a programme marking the Bengali new year with support from district Awami League. Meanwhile, another BCL faction brought out a procession on the same night protesting corruption and irregularities on the campus.

A clash erupted between the two groups, and district AL was involved. Zakaria and Milton, both BCL activists, died in the fighting.

Terming the double murder a “curse on HSTU”, Fazlul Haq, registrar of the university said that they will extend all kinds of support to ensure justice.

“University authority also wants justice,” said Dr Abdul Kashem, vice chancellor of the university.

Following the two deaths in 2015, Milton’s uncle filed a murder case with  Dinajpur Sadar police station accusing 41, in which the then VC Ruhul Amin was made prime accused. On the other hand, Zakaria’s father filed a murder case with the same police station accusing 37, including Biswajit Ghosh Kanchan, general secretary of Dinajpur Sadar upazila AL.

There has been no notable progress in the investigation since then. It was handed over to CID about two years ago, said local police sources.