The Rajshahi University authorities formed a five-member probe body on March 13 to investigate the incident of clashes between Rajshahi University students and local traders. The body was asked to submit its report within seven working days. However, the committee could not complete the investigation and submit the report even after two months. Senior teachers of the university say that the report is not being submitted due to the lack of sincerity of the authorities. There is a risk of recurrence in such incidents.
According to university sources, on the evening of March 11, a clash started in Binodpur Bazar due to an argument between a bus driver and a student of Rajshahi University. More than two hundred students were injured in the tear gas shells and shotgun pellets fired by the law enforcers to control the situation.
A police box and at least 30 roadside shops were burned to the ground by the students. In protest of the shooting incident, students protested from morning to night on March 12. At that time, they blocked the railway line near Charukala and the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway. The university administration, police and railway authorities filed three separate cases against unidentified persons in this incident. Two days after the clash, on March 13, the university authorities made pro-vice-chancellor Humayun Kabir convenor and formed a five-member probe body. The committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days from that day.
Other members of the committee are Assistant Proctor Arifur Rahman, Chemistry Department Professor and former Proctor Tarikul Hasan, Economics Department Professor Abdur Rashid Sarkar and Syndicate Member Md. Shafiquzzaman Joardar. Professor Malay Bhowmik of Management Studies department said that police fired on the students that night and many got injured. But there have been more incidents like murder in the university. There are hundreds of cases in which inquiry committees have been formed, but reports have not been submitted. "Although the investigation report is submitted but it is not brought to the syndicate. Usually, when there is no pressure, the investigation relaxes."
This professor of also said that for the greater good of the country and the university, it is very important to publish a fair investigation report of such incidents and take disciplinary action against the guilty persons accordingly. Otherwise, such incidents may be repeated. Farid Uddin Khan, Professor of the Economics Department of the University said that basically, these investigation committees are formed to cover up the incident and suppress the movement.
However, this professor pointed out that there is a lack of sincerity on the part of the concerned authorities behind not submitting the investigation report. Mehedi Hasan, President of the University Branch Nagrik Chhatra Oikya, said that even after two months, the students have lost trust in the administration due to the lack of sincerity. Due to lack of proper investigation, similar crimes are being committed again and again.
"Criminals are encouraged to pass and commit crimes again and again. Victims are getting more frustrated. The security system of the students of the entire university is under threat," stated Mehedi Hasan. Arifur Rahman, a member of the investigation committee and assistant proctor of the university, said that the work of collecting and writing the investigation data has been completed. However, the convener of the committee can tell when the report will be submitted.
While asked, convener of the probe body and pro-vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Humayun Kabir said, "This incident is not a small incident.
The university administration has given only seven working days. But the magnitude of this phenomenon is much." "Many people had to be interviewed. Hence, there has been a long delay in preparing the investigation report. He said that he will hand over the report to the vice chancellor by next Sunday," replied Prof Humayun Kabir.
