Pushing Principal in Pond: Prime accused among five BCL men held

Police yesterday arrested five persons accused in a case filed in connection with pushing Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute’s principal into a pond on the campus.

The arrestees are prime accused Kamal Hossain Saurav, an eighth semester student of the institute’s computer department; Murad Hosen, a fifth semester student of electronics department; Rayhanul Islam Hasib, seventh semester student of electro-medical department; and former students of the institute Sabbir Ahmed Shanto and Md Salman alias Tony.

A special team of the Detective Branch arrested Saurav, Murad, Shanto and Salman from a road along Bismillah Patrol Pump under Belpukur Police Station early yesterday, said Golam Ruhul Kuddus, additional deputy commissioner of Rajshahi police.

Hasib was arrested from Hatikumrul area of Sirajganj by Chandrima police, he said. They are all involved with Chhatra League, said DB. Saurav is the joint secretary of the institute’s BCL unit. So far, police have arrested 14 persons in the case.

WHY WAS THE PRINCIPAL ASSAULTED?

On November 2, a group of Chhatra League men, led by Saurav, intercepted Principal Farid Uddin Ahmed while he was going to his office in the afternoon. They dragged and pushed him into a pond as he did not “accept one of their illogical demands”.

At least 133 students, mostly BCL activists, out of 455 examinees got 0, 1 or 2 in the 90-mark exam for second-semester students in September. The BCL men asked the authorities to make sure their activists pass the exam, but he did not agree, the principal said. He said the BCL men in the university often make such demands.

CCTV footage showed around 10 youths dragging the teacher by his hands and neck and then pushing him into the waterbody.

Later, he filed a case against 58 persons, naming eight BCL men, with Chandrima Police Station.

He mentioned that his attackers were followers of a BCL faction led by its president Mehedi Hasan Rigan. Rigan is on the run.