24 murders on Chattogram campuses, not one punished yet
It has been five years since Taposh was killed but the trial for his murder has not begun yet
Taposh Sarkar, a student of Chattogram university, lost his life in a clash between two groups of Chhatra League over placing a wreath at the Buddhijibi circle in 2014.
He was a Chhatra League activist and a student of the Sanskrit department of the university.
It has been five years since Taposh was killed but the trial for his murder has not begun yet.
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"My mother is still reeling from the shock of my brother's gruesome murder. We have not got justice yet while the killers are still dominating the campus. We have left all hope of getting justice," said Taposh's brother Srabon Sarkar.
Besides Taposh, 18 more died as victims of brutal political clashes between Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibir in the last 31 years, according to university sources.
Of the total 19 cases, one case has been dismissed in court as the charges against the accused could not be proved, while the other cases have not seen any progress.
Educationists and legal experts think loopholes in the legal system are letting perpetrators to stay at large.
"The main responsibility of law enforcers is to find evidence of the crimes. We expect fair, neutral and objective investigative reports from them. But their reports create controversy over the case, which delays justice," claimed social scientist and former Vice-Chancellor of Chattogram University Dr Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury.
"The perpetrators have to be brought under law if proved guilty after investigation."
"We find delay in investigations and perpetrators are not punished in most cases. The number of campus killings are soaring due to loopholes in the legal system," he added.
"The investigations and trial cannot be progress for many reasons, for instance, for weakness in charge-sheets, transfer of investigation officer, absence or transfer of the magistrate who took statements of the perpetrators under section 164 in the magistrate court, absence of witnesses and experts," said Public Prosecutor of Chattogram metropolitan city Advocate Fakhar Uddin Ahmed.
At Chattogram university, the first political killing of a student took place in 1988.
Shibir's trail of blood
On April 28, 1988, Aminul Islam, a student, was killed in a clash between Chhatra Shibir and All-Party Students' Unity. After the killing, both parties played dirty politics claiming Aminul to be their activist.
On December 22, 1990, Shibir attacked Faruquzzaman, an activist of Chhatra Moitree. He was rushed to Chattogram medical college hospital in a serious condition where he breathed his last on December 24.
On October 29, 1994, Nurul Huda, the then organisational secretary of Chhatra Dal was killed by Shibir activists at Railway Station Mazhar area of the university.
On September 3, 1997, Shibir activists attacked the university's Mozammel Cottage and killed a reciter named Bokul on suspicion of his involvement with Chhatra League.
On May 6, 1998, Shibir activists attacked Shah Amanat Hall of the university to establish their dominance. In the attack, Aiyub, an innocent candidate for admission from Barishal was killed.
On May 18, 1998, Shibir activists opened fire at a teacher's bus on Chattogram-Huthajari Highway at Baluchara area of the city. Mushfiq-Us-Salehin, an innocent first year student of Chattogram Medical College was killed in the attack.
On August 21, 1998, Sanjay Tolapatro, an activist of Chhatra Union and a second year student of Charukola institute was killed in a clash between Shibir and Chhatra League activists.
On December 29, 2001, Chhatra League leader Ali Mortuja was killed from brushfire by Shibir at Fatehabad area of Chattogram.
In Chhatra League's hands
In 1988, Ainul Haque, a Shibir activist went missing. Later, the other Shibir members filed a case with the local police station alleging that Chhatra League had killed and made the body disappear.
On May 15, 1999, Chhatra League activists shot Shibir activist Zobayer behind the dormitory of the Forestry department.
On December 19, Chhatra League activists attacked Suhrawardy Hall over establishing dominance there.
In the attack, two Shibir activists named Mahmudul Hasan and Mohammad Rohimuddin were killed.
On February 8, 2012, Shibir activists named Masud Bin Habib and Mujahidul Islam were killed in a clash between Chhatra League and Shibir.
On January 12, 2014, another Shibir activist named Mamun Hossain was killed in a clash with Chhatra League.
On May 24, 1998, Saifur Rahman, a Chhatra League activist was killed in a clash between two groups of Chhatra League.
On November 20, 2016, police recovered the hanging body of Central Chhatra League's Assistant Secretary Irfan Chowdhury. His death still remains a mystery.
In each murder case, the investigation committees had made some recommendations: raising awareness about curbing student politics in campuses, forming 15-member environment committee, banning political meetings and assembly, distributions of posters and leaflets, restricting outsiders inside campus and counselling the students.
At Chattogram Medical College
In 1992, three people were shot dead at the cafeteria of Chattogram medical college. Of the killed, one was an intern doctor named Mizan, and two others were attendants of patients.
The prime accused in the case was the then vice-president of Student Council of the medical college.
On October 18, 2011, Chhatra League leaders tortured a fourth year student of Chattogram Dental College Abidur Rahman Abid. He died on October 22. Later, his family filed a case against 22 activists.
Police submitted charge-sheets against 12 with the court in 2012 but the trial has not ended yet.
At private universities
On March 19, 2016, Nasim Ahmed Sohel, a master's student of Premier University, was killed in his classroom by his peers following arguments over farewell programme. Allegations were raised against Chhatra League activists.
"It has been two and a half years since my son Sohel was killed but the trial has not started yet. An invisible hand is stopping the proceedings," said Sohel's father Sergeant Md Abu Taher.
"Law enforcers have filed the charge sheet five months back but the prime accused is still at large. I doubt my son will get justice ever," he added.
Thirty-one years have passed since the first killing at Chattogram university campus. The authorities concerned could not clearly tell how many cases are under trial and in how many cases the investigation has been completed.
"We are investigating the cases. Based on the state of the cases, we will take action," said Deputy Inspector General of Police of Chattogram range Golam Faruk.
When contacted by The Business Standard, the Acting Registrar of Chattogram University KM Nur Ahmed refused to comment on the issue.
