RU Prof Taher murder case resumes Sept 27

Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

Rajshahi district and sessions judge yesterday decided to proceed with the trial of a case filed for killing Rajshahi University (RU) teacher Prof S Taher Ahmed from September 27.

The case was shifted to the district and sessions judge's court from public safety tribunal on August 20 as Jahangir Alam Mollah, judge of the tribunal in Rajshahi, refused to conduct the proceedings due to "unavoidable circumstances".

The court of District and Sessions Judge AR Masud also rejected bail petition of former president of RU unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir Mahbubul Alam Salehi, also a prime accused in the case.

Both prosecution and defence lawyers locked into a heated debate over the public safety tribunal's refusal to move the case.

The prosecution lawyers told the court that the tribunal declined to move the case following threats from a suspected killer, who is currently enjoying bail from the high court.

They also alleged that the same accused hurled abuses to Taher's wife and Sub-Inspector Achanul Kabir, an investigation officer of the case, on the court premises earlier.

The defense lawyers told the court that it was the complainant, who pressurised the tribunal judge to take the decision.

Prof Taher, a teacher of geology and mining department, was killed on February 1, 2006. Police recovered his body from a sewer behind his house on RU campus on February 3.

Police submitted charge sheet accusing six people including two suspected masterminds-- Taher's colleague Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin and Salehi-- on March 18.

The other accused are Jahangir, Salam, Nazmul and Azimuddin Munshi. Of them, the first three in their judicial confessional statements said Salehi confirmed Taher's death pressing a pillow on his face. Later, Mohiuddin celebrated the death with Salehi.

At least 26 witnesses have given their accounts since the beginning of the trial in the public safety tribunal on July 3.

According to the prosecution, Mohiuddin and Salehi masterminded the killing by professional killers. They promised the killers jobs in the university.

Investigation officials also told the court that Mohiuddin plotted the murder apprehending a possible dent to his career by Prof Taher, who detected plagiarism and piracy in Mohiuddin's 10 out of 11 research papers submitted to the authorities with a prayer for promotion.