4 RU teachers appeal against verdict

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The four convicted teachers of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday lodged an appeal with the District and Sessions Judge’s Court challenging a lower court order that sentenced them to two years’ rigorous imprisonment.

Judge AR Masud of the District and Sessions Judge’s Court, Rajshahi admitted the criminal appeal petition and set December 27 for the hearing on the appeal. The judge also subpoenaed case documents from the lower court.

Advocate Golam Arif Tipu and Nurul Islam Sarker Aslam submitted the petition on behalf of the appellants who sought bail until the disposal of the appeal and prayed for a stay order on the lower court judgement.

The appellants are Moloy Kumar Bhoumik of Management Department, Dulal Chandra Biswas, Sayed Selim Reza Newton, and Abdullah Al Mamun of Mass Communication Department at RU.

On Dec 4, a Rajshahi speedy trial court sentenced the four RU teachers to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for violating the emergency power rules by bringing out a silent procession on the RU campus on August 21. Each of them was also handed down fines of Tk 1000, in default of which they would have to serve an additional month of rigorous imprisonment.

The appellants challenged the judgement on a total of 35 grounds. In the appeal they claimed themselves “innocent and ill-fated victims of false implication” and were “framed-up by vested quarters in collaboration with law enforcement agencies”.

They also said that the charges framed against them were “defective and confusing — causing serious prejudice” toward them.

They claimed that the lower court was in “complete failure and miscarriage of justice” as it failed to consider all depositions given by prosecution witnesses and evidence submitted including photographs and news reports published in newspapers.

Evidence transpires that the silent procession and its banner in no way had challenged the government, the emergency or any action of the government, the petition says.

RU PROTESTS
Our RU correspondent reports: Around 300 teachers of Rajshahi University yesterday sent a letter to the chief adviser (CA) appealing for the release of all teachers and students of Dhaka and Rajshahi universities who had been detained for the August violence on both the campuses.

The signatories include Rafiqul Islam, Abdul Kader Bhuiyan, Khairul Islam, Julfiker Matin, Abu Daud Hassan, Fayekuzzaman, Nurul Hossain, Abu Bakkar, Emaz Uddin, Mustafizur Rahman, Akram Hossain, Anwar Hossain, Nilufar Ahmed, Ferdousi Begum and Hasibul Alam Prodhan.

The RU teachers in the letter, faxed and e-mailed to the CA, pointed out that the four detained RU teachers are experts in their respective fields with outstanding academic records.

“They had just expressed their opinion independently and peacefully on that day as teachers traditionally take part in different student movements,” the letter said.

“Allegations against the teachers for instigating student violence were not proven at the court and the judicial probe committee did not find such involvement either,” it added.

Meanwhile, students of Mass Communication Department continued to boycott classes. Yesterday they also submitted a memorandum to RU Vice Chancellor Altaf Hossain requesting him not to take any rash or stern action against the four convicted teachers.

A procession of 50 students on their way to submit the memorandum to the VC’s office was intercepted by law enforcers near the administrative building and a small group from among the students was later allowed to enter the VC’s office premises.

Upon receiving the memo, the VC assured the students of discussing the issue of release of the teachers with government high-ups.

Teachers of the Mass Communication Department also called on the VC separately and discussed campus situation.

Students of the department yesterday afternoon went to Rajshahi Central Jail to pay a visit and show their compassion to the detained teachers. But they returned to campus unsuccessful as the jail authorities denied their entry.

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