RMP chief removed after RU teacher murder

Teachers and students of Rajshahi University form a human chain in front of residence of vice-chancellor in the campus on Monday protesting killing of the university’s teacher Shafiul Islam, who was hacked to death on Saturday. Photo: STAR

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) Commissioner Mahbubur Rahman was withdrawn today, two days after the murder of Rajshahi University sociology teacher AKM Shafiul Islam.

Mahbubur Rahman has been deputed as an additional commissioner to Dhaka Metropolitan Police, our Rajshahi correspondent reports quoting Tanvir Haider, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi police.

The home ministry issued an order to the Rajshahi police headquarters in this regard, Tanvir said. Md Shamsuddin, an RMP additional commissioner, will replace Mahbubur Rahman.

Meanwhile, local Rajshahi-2 lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha alleged that the law and order in Rajshahi city deteriorated under RMP commissioner Mahbub.

“I wrote to the home minister regarding the fall in standard of law and order and rise of Jamaat-Shibir during his tenure,” he told The Daily Star. “After he became commissioner, corruption among law enforcers has also risen.”

RU sociology department Professor Shafiul, 48, was hacked to death by assailants near his house in Choddopai area, adjacent to the RU campus, on the outskirts of the city on Saturday.

Teachers of Rajshahi University bring out a procession in the campus on Sunday protesting killing of Prof Shafiul Islam who was hacked to death on Saturday by unknown assailants. Photo: Banglar Chokh

Police were yet to identify the motive behind the murder nor could produce a substantial lead in the murder after two days. Family claimed, Islamist fanatics murdered him.

In addition to the five already detained over the incident, including a college teacher who is said to be in close affiliation with Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir, at least 31 others were held in overnight drives.

A fanatic group Ansar Al Islam Bangladesh claimed responsibility of the murder via a Facebook post, however; no officials have made comments in this regard.

RU PROTEST

Hundreds of teachers and students, wearing black badges, formed a half-an-hour human chain in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence near the RU senate building in the morning.

Activists of the university’s Kendriya (central) Sangskritik Jote held a protest rally at Tuki Taki Chattar, which was followed by a silent procession, reports our Rajshahi University correspondent.

Bangladesh Chhatra League activists brought out a procession and held a rally. Different cultural and political groups also held protest programmes demanding the killers’ arrest.

The students and teachers of the university burst into protests, boycotting classes and staging demonstrations at campus, after the brutal killing.

They threatened of enforcing tougher programmes if the law enforcement agencies fail to file a charge-sheet of the killing within 15 days.

ARREST

At least 31 more people were detained in overnight drives throughout Rajshahi city. The detainees included alleged activists of the Islami Chhatra Shibir.

“Police picked up them suspecting their involvement with the killing,” said Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Matihar Police Station.

With the detention, police so far detained at least 51 people in connection with murder case filed by RU Registrar Prof Entajul Haque with Motihar Police Station last night.

Of them, 11 have been shown arrest in the case and produced before a court in Rajshahi seeking a 10-day remand.