Salehi back to campus with cop protection: RU buses used for bringing outsiders, Jamaat-Shibir men to join rally

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

Amid protests by students, Rajshahi University Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Mahbubul Alam Salehi, a key suspect in Professor S Taher Ahmed murder case, returned to the campus and attended a Shibir programme yesterday.

Salehi chaired the programme organised to observe Islamic Education Day with heavy police protection. Apart from pro-Jamaat teachers, officials and employees, a large number of outsiders including school and madrasa students joined the rally.

Jamaat and Shibir leaders addressing the rally blamed journalists and the police for "fabricating stories" on Salehi's involvement in Prof Taher murder.

Protesting Salehi's reappearance on the campus with the help of the police and RU administration, Progressive Students' Alliance (PSA) and Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) staged demonstrations behind the RU Central Library.

Police intercepted a PSA procession as the activists chanted slogans demanding arrest of Taher's killer. The armed cadres of Shibir and police barred BCL activists from bringing out a procession in front of the library. BCL later held a rally behind the library.

All 30 university buses and light vehicles were used allegedly for transporting the outsiders, Jamaat and Shibir leaders, from the city to the campus.

Proctor Enamul Haque admitted the use of RU vehicles by Shibir men but said they are not going to take any action against them. Asked why they allowed political rally on the campus, he said, "There is no provision for such rally, but they [Shibir] insisted on holding it."

Witnesses said a number of RU teachers welcomed Salehi when he reached the venue near the RU administrative building. Besides, assistant proctors and some pro-Jamaat teachers and officials met Salehi and assured him of ensuring tight security.

Prof Taher, a senior teacher of Geology and Mining Department, was murdered on February 3 this year. Three arrestees confessed to the murder and said they killed Taher at the diktat of the department teacher Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin and Salehi.

Salehi went into hiding just after the murder. Earlier he visited the campus on July 4.

RU teachers and students alleged that the Shibir rally affected their classes and examinations as they set up more than 30 loudspeakers at all academic buildings. Many students could not attend classes as Shibir men used the university buses.