Retrial of Prof Taher murder case demanded
Rajshahi University (RU) Geology and Mining Department teachers, students and officials yesterday demanded retrial of Prof S Taher Ahmed Murder Case after proper reinvestigation.
They put forward the demand at a discussion held at the department at an inaugural function of Professor S Taher Ahmed Micropaleontology Lab, a modern lab. Acting vice chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat opened the lab as chief guest. Departmental chairman Prof Kamrul Hassan Majumder chaired the occasion.
Discussants rejected the verdict of the case where Prof Taher's main killer Mahbubul Alam Salehi, also former RU Shibir president remained unpunished.
Prof Taher, a senior teacher of the department was killed on February 1, 2006. Three days later, the body was recovered from an underground pipe of sewer line behind his campus residence.
While opening the lab, the acting VC observed one-minute silence in memory of Prof Taher and placed wreath at his portrait. He paid rich tributes to Prof Taher terming him a brave teacher who 'never compromised' with injustice in his lifetime. He assured the gathering that he would do the needful in fulfilling their demand. Acting registrar Prof Muhammad Shafi and proctor Enamul Haque were also present.
They said Prof Taher always fought for establishing truth and was killed for his refusal to negotiate with the culprits, they said. Expressing deep resentment, they demanded punishment to the mastermind of the murder.
Later, they urged the VC to declare the Life and Earth Faculty teachers' conference room after the noble teacher.
Among others, Prof Kamrul Hassan Majumder, Prof Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal, Prof Anwarul Islam, officer Muktar Hossain, students Riad Arefin and Shafiqur Rahman addressed.
Prayers were also offered for salvation of the departed soul.
Meanwhile, Shibir activists created resistance so that general students cannot join the inauguration ceremony of the lab.
Earlier, a speedy trial tribunal in Rajshahi, in a verdict pronounced on May 23, sentenced four people including departmental teacher Dr Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin to death for the murder. The tribunal acquitted two including Mahbubul Alam Salehi, former RU Shibir president, one of the mastermind of the murder.
Various teachers and students organisations also expressed discontent over the judgment and rejected the verdict for acquitting the main killer.
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