Staff Reporter :In an apparent continuation of the gruesome murders to eliminate the progressive writers and intellectuals of the country, the militants had killed at least four renowned teachers of Rajshahi University (RU) in film style on the campus and its adjacent areas in the last 12 years.As a result, a deep sense of panic is prevailing among the university family, especially the teachers, following the series of murder incidents in broad-day light. The RU teachers alleged that the culture of delaying the justice may be the key-point of the untoward incidents. They also expressed deep concern over their security on the campus. In the latest incident, the unidentified miscreants hacked to death the teacher of RU English Department Prof Dr AFM Rezaul Karim Siddique on Saturday morning.The grisly killing took place at Bottala intersection in Shalbagan area of the city, adjacent to his residence, when he was going to the university at 7:30am. Meanwhile, the Islamic State (IS) has claimed the responsibility of the murder. Police suspected that he was the victim of the latest attack on a progressive personality by the militants. They could not, howover, arrest the killers.The murder of Prof Rezaul took place 17 months after a Sociology Department Professor of RU AKM Shafiul Islam was stabbed to death by unknown assailants at Bihas Residential Area, near the university, on November 15, 2014. On February 1, 2006, another RU teacher Prof S Taher of Geology and Mining Department was kidnapped from his residence at teachers’ quarters of the university. After two days his body was recovered from the manhole beside his home. On the other hand, Mohammad Yunus Ali, Professor of Economics Department of RU, was stabbed to death by miscreants at Binodpur area, near the university campus, while he was doing morning walk on December 24, 2004. Following the brutal murder, RU Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin, expressed deep concern over the killing and demanded justice for all murdered teachers.RUTA Secretary Prof Shah Azam Shantanu alleged that such brutal murders are committing due to culture of impunity. RU Proctor Mujibul Haq Azad also expressed deep concern over getting justice of these brutal killings. “Whoever did kill my colleague, I just want justice after proper investigation,” the proctor said.
