Bangladesh News

The Rajshahi metropolitan magistrate’s court for speedy trial yesterday framed charges against six detained Rajshahi University teachers in the case filed for violating Emergency Power Rules (EPR) 2007 during last month’s student unrest.

The accused are former vice chancellor M Saidur Rahman Khan, Convener of Progressive Teachers’ Society M Abdus Sobhan, Moloy Bhoumik of management department, and Dulal Chandra Biswas, Sayed Selim Reza Newton and Abdullah Al Mamun of mass communication department.

The other charges included violation of EPR through bringing out a silent procession on August 21 protesting Dhaka University incidents, instigating students to be violent on the following day, and observing strike on the plea of taking leave on July 26.

Khondoker Ferdous Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Motihar Police Station, lodged the case against Saidur, Sobhan and Moloy on August 26 after Rapid Action Battalion arrested them under the EPR.

Sub Inspector Nasir Uddin Mondol, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted charge sheet of the case accusing three more teachers on September 1.

It was alleged that the accused with an ill political motive held procession and secret meetings to disrupt law and order and also damaged public properties on August 21 and 22.

They also observed a strike on July 26 by going on leave en masse protesting the arrest of Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina.

Prof Saidur led the programme, which was attended by more than a hundred teachers.

The IO also produced the banner, which was used in teachers’ procession, and photographs of the procession as evidence of the case.

Meanwhile, Sub Inspector Abdur Rob of Daulatpur Police Station yesterday submitted charge sheet to Khulna’s chief metropolitan magistrate’s court accusing seven of creating violence in and around Government BL University College on August 22 protesting Dhaka University incidents, reports our Khulna correspondent.

The accused are Sandipan Chatterjee, Tarikul Islam Sani, Yusuf Shakil, Monir Hossain Ruchi, Shahriyar Ahmed, Samdani and Tanvir alias Trimon. Five of them are students of BL College.