No progress in 3 CU student murder cases

No progress has been made in investigation into the murder of three Chittagong University (CU) students in two months that not only shocked students or teachers but also puzzled the law enforcement agencies.
Md Asadauzzaman, a second year BBA student, who was stabbed by some local villagers on April 15 night and succumbed to his injuries the following day, was the third such victim in last two months.
Only 19 days before Asad's killing, Harunur Rashid alas Kawser, a third year student of Marketing Department, was murdered on March 28. Earlier on February 11, AAM Mohiuddin Masum, a final year student of Political Science, was murdered.
All the three killings were committed in almost similar style as the criminals stabbed the victims indiscriminately with lethal weapons and left the bodies near railway tracks, leaving no clue to get leads in the cases.
Three cases have been filed with Government Railway Police (GRP) in this regard since the victims were found injured or dead near railway tracks at different places.
Poorly equipped GRP could not proceed far in investigating the first two cases, prompting the first one to be shifted on March 3 to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). But, CID is also yet to find any clue, said the sources.GRP Chittagong station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shahidullah said they lack skilled officers like other police departments to probe such brutal killings.
A gang of unidentified miscreants hacked Mohiuddin to death at Sholoshshar Railway Station under the city's Panchlaish area on February 11 evening. Victim's father Fazlul Kader filed a case with GRP the same night accusing some seven to eight unidentified persons.
Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) CU unit claimed Mohiuddin as its activist which the victim's family denied. Shibir termed the murder a political one, blaming the ruling party student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and district police launched a drive to nab the culprits immediately after the incident. Their success was only the arrest of CU student Mohaiminul Islam, the lone witness of the murder, on February 14.
They had taken Mohaiminul on remand but failed to extract any important clue.
Investigation in the case apparently falls flat on its face after the case was shifted to CID without any progress till the date.
ASP Nazir Hossain Dewan of CID, also investigation officer (IO), on Monday told The Daily Star that they are yet to find any important information about the killing of Mohiuddin.
“As far we could know around 15 people, including outsiders, took part in the attack and the murder was not political,” Nazir said, hinting at previous feud over a love affair that might have led to the murder.
He said they would take Mohaiminul on fresh remand for quizzing since he in the previous remand didn't give any information that could help investigation.
Meanwhile, CU probe committee submitted its report within 10 days of Mohiuddin murder.
Chairman of the committee Prof Imam Ali said they found no political reason behind the murder.
He, however, said the committee could not find out the culprits or reasons behind the murder.
Vice Chancellor Prof Abu Yusuf said it is difficult for the university probe committees to find out the culprits since they have no technical support like police.
On the other hand, Harunur Rashid alias Kawser was hacked to death and his body was left near a railway track at Borodighir Par under Hathazari upazila on March 28 night.
GRP Chittagong Station Officer in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Shahidullah is investigating the case filed on March 29.
Police on April 19 showed five BCL men arrested in Kawser murder case. They are Zahidul Islam alias Black Jewel, 26, Shantanu, 25, Russel Barua, 22, Ashtarul Hoque Akhter, 25 and Raihanuddin, 24.
Hathazari police arrested them from a cottage near the campus on the night of April 15 after a clash between BCL activists and villagers that left Asaduzzaman dead.
Shahidullah said the BCL men were shown arrested in Kawser murder case since police expect to extract some important clue from them.
BCL CU unit General Secretary Ershad Hossain, however, protested the arrest and claimed they are innocent.
CU committee is yet to submit its report in Kawser murder.
Prof Yusuf termed the three murders as “unfortunate” for the university.
Different student organisations including BCL, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Bangladesh Chhatra Union blamed the university authorities for the killings for lack of proper initiatives to ensure security of the students. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.