IU teacher murder: 2 teachers, one official suspended; probe body formed

The authorities of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia have suspended two teachers and a university official after their names appeared in a murder case over the killing of Social Welfare Department chairperson Asma Sadia Runa.

The suspended individuals are assistant professors Shyam Sundar Sarkar and Habibur Rahman of the Social Welfare Department, and assistant registrar Biswajit Kumar Biswas of Ummul Mumineen Ayesha Siddika Hall.

The decision was announced through three separate office orders issued on Saturday and signed by IU acting registrar M Manjurul Haque.

According to the orders, the names of the three appeared in the initial information of a cognisable offence filed with the university police under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with the murder of Asma Sadia Runa on March 4. In line with Section 15(b) of the university’s Service Discipline Rules, the authorities placed them under temporary suspension.

During the suspension period, they will receive subsistence allowances in accordance with university regulations.

IU acting registrar Manjurul Haque said the decision was taken as their names surfaced in the murder case. He added that legal action would be taken against those found involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, the university administration formed a five-member probe committee earlier in the day to investigate the incident.

IU vice-chancellor Nakib Muhammad Nasrullah constituted the committee appointing Accounting and Information Systems Department professor M Mizanur Rahman as its convener and deputy registrar (education) Golam Mawla as member secretary.

The committee has been asked to submit its report as early as possible.

On March 4 Fazlur Rahman entered Runa’s office and locked into an altercation with her over his transfer to the Political Science department and unpaid wages. 

At one stage, he allegedly attacked Runa with a sharp weapon, leaving her critically injured.

Hearing her screams, students rushed to the room and found her lying in a pool of blood, while Fazlur was reportedly attempting to kill himself by cutting his throat with the same weapon.

Members of the university’s proctorial body, with assistance from police and students, rescued both Runa and Fazlur and took them to the IU medical centre. As their conditions deteriorated, they were referred to Kushtia General Hospital, where doctors declared Runa dead upon arrival while Fazlur was admitted for treatment.

On March 5, Runa’s husband Imtiaz Sultan filed a case with the IU police station against Fazlur Rahman, assistant professors Shyam Sundar Sarkar and Habibur Rahman, and former assistant registrar Biswajit Kumar Biswas.

Later that day, the case was filed under Sections 302 and 109 of the Penal Code, naming Fazlur Rahman as the prime accused. He was shown arrested in the case on Friday.

Irfan Ullah/MHK