Dr Raihan Sharif, a lecturer of the Community Medicine department at Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College and Hospital in Sirajganj has been suspended over shooting a student inside a classroom.
The medical college authorities took the decision on Wednesday following the directives of the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME), Prof Dr Amirul Hossain, principal of the college, told UNB.
Earlier, on Tuesday a Sirajganj court sent Dr Raihan to jail.
The decision was handed down on Tuesday by Billal Hossain, judge of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-1 in Sirajganj, shortly after Dr. Raihan’s court appearance.
The incident, which has sparked widespread condemnation, led to the formation of a three-member investigation committee by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The committee visited the medical college on Tuesday to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
In response to the grave incident, students of Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College and Hospital organised a protest on the Sirajganj-Bogura-4 lane highway, demanding the immediate dismissal and severe punishment of Dr. Raihan. Their demands extend to the Prime Minister’s intervention for the revocation of the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) registration and the permanent removal of the accused from his teaching position. The students eventually suspended their protest after receiving assurances from the DGHS investigative team.
Arafat Amin Tomal, 23, a third-year student and victim of the shooting, is currently receiving medical care. The incident took place on Monday afternoon during a class, resulting in Tomal’s hospitalisation. Dr. Raihan was arrested at the scene, and his firearm was confiscated by the police.
Md Sirajul Islam, the officer-in-charge of the local police station, revealed that Dr. Raihan Sharif was known for carrying weapons and knives, which he would openly display during lectures. Sharif reportedly threatened students with these weapons whenever they objected to their presence in the classroom.
The situation escalated during an exam on Monday when, after verbally abusing Tomal, Dr. Raihan shot him, leaving the student wounded. A preliminary investigation has confirmed that the firearm used was illegal, leading to an additional charge against Dr. Raihan under the Arms Act.
The victim’s father, Abdullah Al Amin, has filed a case against Dr. Raihan with the Sadar Police Station, further intensifying the legal actions against the embattled lecturer.
Meanwhile, students of Sirajganj Shahid M Mansur Ali Medical College protested the incident of shooting a student named Arafat Amin Tamal by teacher Dr Raihan Sharif. The students held a protest rally and staged sit-in program in protest the incident.
Around 11:30 am on Tuesday, students of the college held an hour-long protest rally and sit-in program on the Nalka-Bogra highway against the accused teacher. He made several demands, including canceling the teacher's BMDC registration, permanent dismissal from government service, punishment and the Prime Minister's intervention.
Last Monday night around 12:30 the victim's father said. Abdullah Al Amin filed the case at the Sadar police station as the plaintiff and another case has been filed under the Arms Act for possession of illegal weapons, the police said. Police also said that the pistol recovered from him was illegal. Meanwhile, during the protest, the three-member investigation team formed by the Health Department assured the angry students of the teacher's punishment. The students returned from the protest and stay program.
