RU prof Rezaul karim murder
A year on, justice eludes family
UNB
Family, friends, colleagues and students are marking the first death anniversary of Rajshahi University professor AFM Rezaul Karim Siddique with a call for justice for the music and literary works enthusiast, reports UNB. Suspected Islamist extremists hacked the English department teacher to death near his home in Rajshahi exactly a year ago yesterday (April 23).
Hours into the killings of Professor Karim, militant group Islamic State claimed the responsibility for the attack, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group.
Riyasat Imtiaz Sourav, son of the slain professor, later filed a murder case against anonymous people for the attack, which, police said, has similarities with the style of the murder of blogger and secular activists in the past.
The prime suspect in the murder case is still on the run and the family members of the professor, prompting the family members casting doubt over getting justice.
Lamenting the slow pace of the investigation, Rezwana Hasin Shotovi, daughter of the teacher, told the UNB:
The prime suspect of the case is still on the run. Its been one year now, however, no progress has been made yet.
As the murder was designed by a powerful evil force, we have doubt that the delays in the trial procedure will affect the case. We want fair probe and speedy trial of my fathers killers.
Different cultural organisations, RU English Department and RU Teachers Association chalked out elaborate programmes, including discussions and human chain to mark the first death anniversary of the cultural activist. Abdullah Al-Mamun, associate professor of English Department, said: Marking the death anniversary of Professor Karim, we have held a rally at 9:30am on Sunday and we will hold a meeting over the current status of the murder case with the RMP commissioner later in the day.
The department will also unveil the cover of the special issue of literary magazine Saptok in remembrance of our respected colleague.
Professor Shah Azam Shantonu, general secretary of RU Teachers Association, said: We will hold a human chain demanding the speedy trial of the killers. One year has been passed, but the law enforcers failed to arrest the main suspect of the case, which is disappointing.
Wishing anonymity, a senior official of Rajshahi Detective Branch of Police said the charge-sheet in the murder case has already been filed and the law enforcers are trying to conclude the case within the shortest possible time. Of eight suspects, three have been killed in different incidents of crossfire and four are behind the bars, said the detective.
