RU suspends its 6 detained teachers

The six Rajshahi University (RU) teachers, now detained in the case for violation of Emergency Power Rules following their alleged involvement with late August campus violence, were suspended from their job yesterday.
They are former RU vice chancellor Prof M Saidur Rahman Khan, RU Progressive Teachers' Alliance convener Prof M Abdus Sobhan of applied physics department, Prof Moloy Kumar Bhowmik of management department, Dulal Chandra Biswas, Sayed Selim Reza Newton and Abdullah Al Mamun of mass communication department.
Rapid Action Battalion arrested the first three on August 24 while the others surrendered before a court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate's Court for speedy trial yesterday issued arrest warrant and ordered attachment of properties against 13 persons including two RU professors in the case for torching a DGFI vehicle during campus violence on August 22.
The court also ordered Rajshahi Central Jail authorities to grant division for the six teachers detained in the case for violation of Emergency Power Rules.
The court has scheduled September 11 for hearing on charge framing in both the cases.
The two teachers facing the warrant are Prof Dr Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu and Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal.
Other absconding accused persons include RU Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) general secretary Ayenuddin, BCL workers Dipayan Sarker, Mizanur Rahman Mithu, Sarker Ayaj, SM Fakhrul Islam Sumon, Abu Sayem, Shamim Ahmed, students Abdul Latif, Shakhawat, Aziz and former RU vice chancellor Faisul Islam Faruki's chauffeur Ataur Rahman.
The court earlier issued notices asking the absconding accused to surrender within three days.
Another accused, RU Public Relations Officer (PRO) Sadikul Islam was arrested on August 29.
Shawkat Ali, assistant director of Rajshahi regional DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) lodged the case with Motihar Police Station on August 23 accusing two teachers and four students.
Sub-inspector Mukhtar Hossain of the PS submitted charge sheet in the case accusing the six persons and eight others including Sadikul on September 1.
During campus violence of August 22, the two teachers allegedly through mobile phones ordered the unruly students to torch the DGFI vehicle and a group of unruly students beat up Shawkat Ali and torched his official vehicle, says the charge sheet.
Meanwhile, six detained RU teachers were produced before the court yesterday in Emergency Power Rules violation case.
Their lawyers complained to the court that the court's order to allow them division in accordance with the jail code was not being followed.
They submitted a petition for directly ordering division for the teachers and the court after hearing both sides granted division under 910 (1) of the Jail Code.
The suspension six RU teachers came into effect from the date they were taken under police custody, RU vice chancellor Prof Dr Altaf Hossain told The Daily Star yesterday.
"But their suspension is yet to be resolved by the university's syndicate. We [RU authorities] will soon take the matter to the syndicate for formal execution," he said, adding that the suspended teachers will get maintenance allowance during their suspension period.
Earlier two RU teachers -- Dr Asadullah Al Galib of Arabic department and Prof Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin -- were suspended following their arrest by the law enforcers.
Prof Galib was arrested in February 2005 after a number of arrested militants of Jama'atul Mujahidin, Bangladesh named him as their leader in judicial confession in different districts.
He was however promoted as full professor later although he is still in police custody and facing trial in a number of cases related to militancy, said official sources.
Prof Mohiuddin was arrested in February 2006, days after the murder of Prof Taher as three arrested killers named him as mastermind of the killing in their judicial confession.
Mohiuddin is now on bail granted by the High Court while Prof Taher murder case is under trial.
Terming the suspension order of six Rajshahi University teachers 'politically motivated and inhuman', Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, acting dean of social science faculty of Dhaka University, yesterday demanded immediate release of the six teachers.
The university authorities should withdraw the suspension order immediately and provide them legal assistance, Prof Siddique, also former president of Dhaka University Teachers Association, made the demand while talking to The Daily Star last night.