Police have arrested a local BNP leader following the forced resignation of Rajshahi Medical University Vice-Chancellor Md Jawadul Haque by a mob on Tuesday. Under a High Court ruling, resignation letters obtained through force or coercion carry no legal validity.
The arrested individual, Abdus Salam, vice-president of Rajpara Thana BNP, was detained at his residence in the Paramedical area after a case was filed over the incident.
Police are examining video footage from the scene to identify and apprehend other suspects, while university staff held a human chain protest on campus.
Mob action and siege
Questions remain regarding who prepared the pre-written resignation letter, why it was brought to the vice-chancellor’s office, and the precise circumstances under which he was compelled to sign it.
According to eyewitnesses and university staff, a group of 40 to 50 people carrying a banner reading “Apamor Chhatra-Janata of Rajshahi” entered the university’s temporary office and pressured Vice-Chancellor Haque to resign.
Eyewitnesses reported that leaders and activists from the BNP and its associate organisations were present in the mob, including Rajpara Thana BNP Vice-President Abdus Salam, Organising Secretary Harunur Rashid, and City Krishak Dal Convener Sharfuzzaman Shamim.
An eyewitness claimed an individual named Sagar brought the pre-written resignation letter, which was handed to Harunur Rashid before being forced upon the VC.
During the siege, participants chanted slogans including “Jalo jalo, agun jalo,” “Jaliye dao, puriye dao, Awami League er astana,” and “Awami League er VC hushiyar, sabdhan.”
Md Jawadul Haque alleged that the mob seized his mobile phone, issued death threats, forced him to sign the document, and locked the room upon departure, taking away the CCTV hard disk and computer CPU.
The VC’s PS and Section Officer of the Finance Department, Md Nazmul Hossain, said several individuals carried weapon-like objects, physically assaulted him, tore his clothes, and forced both him and the VC to sign resignation letters.
Police investigation and campus protest
On Wednesday, a tense atmosphere prevailed on campus, where returning staff members were unable to conduct routine duties and subsequently held a human chain in protest.
Nazmul Hossain lodged a case with Rajpara Police Station on Tuesday night against 50 to 60 unidentified individuals.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman stated that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the remaining culprits after examining video footage.
Political statements and contract dispute
Senior Vice-President of Rajshahi City BNP, Nazrul Huda, told TIMES that the incident was not an official party programme, claiming local residents and some BNP activists had gathered under the “Chhatra-Janata” banner.
Huda alleged that complaints of recruitment trade, corruption, irregularities, and contracting had been raised against the VC, and claimed he had heard the VC resigned voluntarily.
Prior to his arrest, BNP leader Abdus Salam acknowledged that City Tanti Dal President Kajal, Krishak Dal Convener Shamim, City Zia Manch President Kamal, and Harun had accompanied him to the office, but denied any involvement in forcing the VC’s resignation.
Multiple attempts to contact Sharfuzzaman Shamim for comment were unsuccessful.
The incident has highlighted underlying tensions regarding university construction contracts.
Local residents alleged that construction projects were being awarded to contractors from Dhaka, whereas the VC had previously stated that a faction was pressuring him to secure construction work.
Similar forced resignations of educators have occurred across hundreds of educational institutions nationwide following the fall of the Awami League government in the mass uprising of 5 August 2024.
However, following a writ petition by Md Alkas Uddin Ahmed, Headmaster of Golam Nabi Model Pilot High School in Kaliakoir, Gazipur, the High Court ordered his reinstatement on 20 August, ruling that resignation letters obtained through force or coercion carry no legal validity.
