Questions have been raised over the credibility of the investigation committee formed by the Rajshahi University (RU) administration to probe an attack on journalists by leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, given the university’s record in handling similar inquiries.
In the past, investigation committees formed over various incidents have either taken a long time to submit their reports or failed to submit them altogether. Even when reports were submitted, they were not made public.
There are also allegations that CCTV footage was made to disappear by the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall administration following the brutal beating of four journalists by Chhatra Dal activists last Sunday. The case filed by the university administration also did not name any accused.
Yet, amid criticism, Chhatra Dal itself removed two of its leaders from their posts, cancelled primary membership of another activist and issued show-cause notices to six others asking why they should not be expelled.
To investigate the attack on journalists, the university formed a committee headed by syndicate member and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Professor Md Rezaul Karim. The committee has been asked to submit its report by Thursday.
The other members are Department of Philosophy Professor Md Ariful Islam, Department of Materials Science and Engineering Professor M Asadul Haque, Department of Zoology Professor Md Anisur Rahman and Kazi Mamun Haider of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism.
During talks with protesting journalists and students, Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam said, “We expect to receive the investigation report within 72 hours. After that, the punishment prescribed under university rules will be ensured in line with the findings of the report. A syndicate meeting will then be convened for the next stage of the investigation and action will be taken through the proper process. Please have faith in the decision we take.”
He also assured them that those identified as responsible in the investigation would initially be expelled and action would also be taken against those who instigated and incited the attack.
Sheikh Shahir Ahmed, a student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said he had no confidence in the university administration.
He told TIMES, “The administration also delayed filing the case. So our concerns remain.”
Shahparan Likhon, a resident student of Ziaur Rahman Hall, said, “We have seen many investigation committees formed in the past, but those committees did not submit their reports. In an incident over which Chhatra Dal itself expelled its leaders and activists, the administration is still reluctant to acknowledge them as offenders.”
On 27 July, the university administration formed an investigation committee after a student was beaten after being labelled a Chhatra League activist in an incident led by Salauddin Ammar, general secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucsu). The committee has yet to submit its report.
At the time, amid intense criticism, the committee was instructed to submit its report as soon as possible.
The entire incident was captured on CCTV and was also recorded on mobile phones by several people.
Despite more than two months having passed, committee head Professor Md Rezaul Karim could not be reached despite attempts for two consecutive days to explain why the report had still not been submitted.
Professor Md Golam Sadik of the Department of Pharmacy, a member of the investigation committee, said, “The report has not yet been submitted. The work is still in progress.”
Why did the hall provost try to protect the attackers?
The attack on the journalists took place in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall. Everything should have been recorded on the CCTV cameras there. However, nothing was later found in the footage.
Allegations have been raised that the footage was deleted on the instructions of hall provost Professor Mahbubur Rahman.
Amid intense criticism over the incident, the vice-chancellor said around 1:30am on Monday that the provost had been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
Arif Uz Zaman Korban, RU correspondent for bdnews24.com who was assaulted in the Chhatra Dal attack, told TIMES, “We have seen dozens of such investigation committees formed in the past. For some unknown reasons, their reports never see the light of day. This time too, we are doubtful about how much this investigation committee will actually be able to do.”
“When a hall provost, who is effectively the guardian of nearly 600 residential students, can make CCTV footage disappear to protect politically affiliated attackers, the question remains as to whom within the administration we can trust,” he said.
Another question that continues to confront the university administration is why no one was named in the case.
In the case filed by Md Monir Hossain, deputy registrar of RU, he referred only to “some students”.
Yet, after conducting its own investigation, the central Chhatra Dal committee on Monday night removed RU unit vice-president Ahsan Habib and joint general secretary Hasib Hasan from their organisational posts. Another attacker, Bishal Chakrabarty, got his primary membership cancelled.
In a separate notice, vice-presidents Takbir Ahmed Imon, Bulbul Rahman, Shariful Islam and Faruk Hossain, assistant office secretary Shahariar Alam and student leader Saju were asked to show cause.
