The chairman of the Tourism and Hospitality Management department at Islamic University (IU), M Shariful Islam Jewel, has reportedly been missing since Wednesday morning, triggering allegations that he was abducted by Shahed Ahmed, convener of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), ahead of a departmental teacher recruitment board.
CCTV footage showed Jewel being taken away on a motorcycle from outside his residence in Jhenaidah around 9:00am, shortly after he left home to attend the recruitment board. His mobile phone was later found switched off, and he did not appear at the selection proceedings, which went ahead several hours later without him. The written examination phase has been completed, while oral examinations are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Family members said Jewel left home around 8:00am. Shahed Ahmed was reportedly seen riding the motorcycle that picked him up and took him to an undisclosed location.
Jewel’s wife said university officials had repeatedly called him urging him to attend the recruitment board. “Although he initially said he was unwell, he later got ready to go. When I heard a motorcycle outside, I assumed the university had sent transport. About half an hour later, a university driver called asking about his whereabouts, but Jewel had already left. Since then, I have been unable to reach him on either his personal or office phone,” she said.
Contacted by this correspondent, Shahed Ahmed denied abducting Jewel. “Why would we kidnap him? I don’t know where he is,” he said.
However, in a later Facebook post, Shahed claimed Jewel had contacted him out of fear for his personal safety. “On Wednesday morning, Jewel called me saying he felt insecure, and I personally went to assist him. He is a long-time acquaintance. The university proctor and registrar have threatened him, and on Monday, several individuals were sent to the department to threaten four teachers and delete CCTV footage. For his security, Jewel stayed with me. He is currently at his residence in Jhenaidah,” Shahed wrote.
Islamic University Vice-Chancellor Professor Nakib Muhammad Nasrullah said appropriate legal action would be taken if credible information and evidence are found. “No one has the authority to remove a university teacher from his home,” he said.
Police have been informed and investigations are under way to determine Jewel’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, the vice-chancellor added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students from different departments staged a demonstration in front of the university’s administration building, protesting the alleged abduction.
They demanded a proper investigation and urged the university administration to take stern action.
Irfan Ullah/MHK