Death of Teacher: 9 Kuet students suspended

Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) has suspended nine students for breaching university discipline following the death of Prof Selim Hossain of electrical and electronic engineering department.  

A syndicate meeting made the decision after the issue of the unnatural death was tabled before it on Friday night, according to a press statement from the university.

The students were suspended as the incident was primarily found to be true analysing CCTV footage and other evidence, the statement said.

CCTV footage of the incident showed several students entering the teacher's room around 12:30pm on Tuesday and they came out after around 40 minutes.

Rita Khanam, wife of the professor Selim told the media that he returned from the campus around 2:00pm and went to the bathroom. He was found nonresponsive inside the bathroom later. 

Prof Selim, 38, died at his home hours after a group of Kuet Chhatra League leaders and activists confined him to his office on November 30. University's faculty members alleged that he was tortured by the BCL men.

On Thursday, Kuet teachers announced work abstention seeking a fair investigation into the death.

The next day, the university was declared closed till December 13.

The nine suspended students are: Sadman Nahyan Sejan and Riyaz Khan Niloy of computer science and engineering department, Sadman Saqib and ASM Ragib Ahsan Munna of leather engineering department, Tahmidul Huq Ishraq and Mahmudul Hasan of civil engineering department, Md Kamruzzaman and Faisal Ahmed Rifat of mechanical engineering department, and Naimur Rahman Antu of materials science and engineering department.

Sajen is the general secretary of Kuet Chhatra League while the others are activists of the unit, said campus and BCL sources.

Sejan dismissed the allegations of torture. He claimed that they had gone to Prof Hossain's office to "discuss events" for Victory Day celebrations.

The syndicate meeting on Friday also formed a five-member committee to look into Prof Selim's death.

The committee was asked to submit its probe report within 10 days. Mohiuddin Ahmed, professor of electrical and electronic engineering department, was made its chief.

Another three-member inquiry committee was formed on Tuesday night.

No case has been filed in connection with the teacher's death.