3 culprits expelled

Jagannath cancels certificate of 2 others; MKA says BCL men not involved

The authorities of Jagannath University (JnU) yesterday expelled three students and cancelled certificates of two others for their involvement in the murder of Bishwajit Das during the opposition’s roadblock on Sunday.

The decision was taken on the basis of reports and photographs published in newspapers and shown on television at an emergency meeting of the university’s law and order committee and the proctorial body, according to a JnU release.

The expelled students are Obhidul Quader, a fourth year student of psychology department, Meer Md Noore Alam, a fourth year student of Political Science, and Rafiqul Islam, a second year student of Islamic History department, as named in the press release.

The university also cancelled certificates of Emdadul Haque, a masters final-year student of philosophy, and Mahfuzur Rahman, a master’s student of final year of Bangla department.

Some 10-12 activists of pro-Awami League student body Chhatra League beat and hacked Bishwajit, 24, to death during the hours of roadblock enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance.

Chhatra League then tried to brand him as a blockader and wash their hands of the killing. But the media revealed his identity as a tailor, who was going to his Shakhari Bazar shop when the incident happened.

As Bishwajit was passing Jhonson Road in Old Dhaka on that day, a cocktail exploded. He then attempted to take shelter in a dental clinic on the first floor of a nearby building.

Mistaking him for the person responsible for the explosion, the BCL men swooped on him with machetes, iron rods and other sharp weapons.

The ill-fated Bishwajit succumbed to his injuries after he was taken to Mitford Hospital.

Three days after the incident left the whole nation shocked, leaders of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance condemned the murder yesterday and demanded that the government take appropriate measures to arrest and punish those killers, including the five JnU students.

Besides, businessmen of Shakhari Bazar brought out a procession, raising the same demand.

Wearing black badges, they said the identified killers of Bishwajit had been involved in extortion, mugging and other criminal activities in and around the Jagannath University.

MK ALAMGIR DENIES BCL INVOLVEMENT
Yesterday, Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir once again denied the involvement of BCL activists in the killing.

“It is clear that Chhatra League was not involved in the killing,” he said while talking to reporters after a discussion marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day at the National Museum last evening.

The minister kept mum when asked to comment on Tuesday’s High Court directive on the law enforcement agencies to arrest the killers of Bishwajit within 24 hours.

Source: The Daily Star