Key charge-sheeted accused surrenders, sent to jail

A key charge-sheeted accused in Rajshahi University Prof AKM Shafiul Islam murder case was sent to jail after his surrender at a Rajshahi court yesterday.

Anwar Hossain Ujjal, convener of Rajshahi district unit of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, and the prime accused in the charges framed against a total of 11 persons, was evading arrest for over a year.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge Mokseda Asgar rejected his bail prayer and sent him to jail.

With him, police are able to detain all the 11 accused, said Abul Hashem, the court inspector.

However, other than Ujjal and Jubo Dal activist Abdus Samad Pintu, all the accused are enjoying bail from the High Court, he added.

Unknown people hacked Prof Shafiul, 48, known as a progressive-minded teacher, to death near his rented house in Choddopai area, on the outskirts of Rajshahi city, on November 15, 2014.

Ansar Al Islam Bangladesh-2 claimed responsibility for the murder in social media and police arrested three militants for the claim.

Later, Rab arrested six Jubo Dal activists and their cohorts who in custody confessed to the killing. However, the six denied confessing before the Rajshahi courts and said they were forced to confess.

Detective Branch submitted a charge sheet on November 30 last year.

Other accused include, Pintu's wife and RU assistant section officer Nasrin Akhter Reshma, Convener of Jubo Dal's Katakhali upazila unit Ariful Islam alias Manik, and Manik's associates Sabuj Sheikh, Sirajul Islam alias Kalu, Al Mamun, Ibrahim Khalil alias "Tokai" Babu, Sagar, Jinnat, and Arif Hossain.

However, Rezaus Sadik, investigation officer of the case, said they did not find any militant links; the professor was killed following an altercation with Reshma over academic activities.

The charge sheet was prepared on the basis of Reshma's confessional statement.

After her arrest, Reshma confessed in a court about her involvement, while Rab, after arresting Pintu and five others, claimed that the professor was killed for "misbehaving with Reshma".