RAJSHAHI: Miscreants chopped Professor Dr AKM Shafiul Islam of Sociology Department at Rajshahi University to death in front of his residence in Chaddapai area on Saturday afternoon.

Pro Vice-chancellor Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan told banglanews that Shafiul was on way to home by a motorcycle.

Miscreants intercepted his vehicle, indiscriminately stabbed on his neck and back with sharp weapons and fled the scene, leaving him inured critically, he added.

Fatally injured Shafiul was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) where he succumbed to his injuries.



Confirming the incident, Motihar Thana Officer-in-Charge Alamgir Hossain said, “Motives behind the killing and who carried out it could not be known immediately.”

Shafiul’s body has been taken to the campus following the autopsy at RMCH in the evening. He will be buried at the family graveyard at Hiatpur village of Shalmara Union Parisahd under Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district.

Meanwhile, police recovered a blood-stained machete and a Hero Splendor brand motorbike in nearby area of RU, the OC told banglanews at 7:15pm.
 
Police suspect these weapons might have been used in the killing. The OC denied providing details saying raids are underway in RU and its adjacent areas.

The killing sparked protest among the students, staging demonstration on the campus.



Over hundreds of students of the varsity gathered on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in front of the university’s main entrance around 6:15pm.

They blocked the highways and began chanting slogans demanding immediate detention and exemplary punishment to the killers.

Vehicle movement came to halt at that time. Traffic jam appeared on both side of the busy highway.

The students, however, withdrew their blockade on assurance of taking legal actions against the killers from the university authorities.

As RU Registrar Entatjul Haque called upon the agitated students to attend Shafiul’s funeral and assured of taking actions against the culprits, they cleared off the highway and made way for vehicular movement.



RU Vice-chancellor Professor Muhammad Mizanuddin vowed of exemplary punishment to the culprits saying those are involved in the killing will be brought under trial.

RU Teachers Association (RUTA) announced boycotting all classes and examinations on Sunday protesting the killing and demanding arrest of the attackers.

** RU teacher killing sparks protest 

BDST:1637  HRS, NOV 15, 2014 / UPDATED 2155