Shamim murder at JU: One arrest and tangled probe in 7 days

Seven days after the murder of former Chhatra League leader Shamim Molla at Jahangirnagar University, the investigation shows little progress, with only one arrest made despite many individuals being captured on video during the assault.

The JU administration formed a probe committee on 19 September and it was reconstituted within days, tasked with submitting a report containing recommendations for punishment within 15 working days.

Shamim Molla, severely beaten up on campus, was pronounced dead at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Savar at 12:30am on 18 September.

A day after the murder, the university formed an investigative committee led by Prof Swadhin Sen from the Archaeology department, with Deputy Registrar (Higher Education and Scholarships) Md Lutfor Rahman Arif as the member secretary.

The committee included three professors – Muhammad Tareq Chowdhury of Philosophy department, Md Emran Jahan and Anichha Parvin of History – and Associate Professor Ameena Islam of Journalism and Media Studies department. 

This committee was instructed to submit a report within 30 working days.

On Monday, a revised office order reformed the committee, now comprising Prof Muhammad Tareq Chowdhury as chair and Assistant Proctor Mohammad Rezaul Rakib as member secretary, along with Professors ANM Fakhruddin (Environmental Science) and Kamrul Ahsan (Government and Politics) as members among others. 

Prof Tareq Chowdhury on Wednesday told The Business Standard that the committee was reconstituted on 23 September after the previous chair resigned.  

"We have had several discussions on this matter over the past two days. The first meeting of the committee will take place tomorrow (today), where we will discuss these issues in detail." 

Regarding the investigation progress, JU Proctor Prof AKM Rashidul Alam said after the preliminary report was submitted, police detained one student involved in the incident. No further arrests had been made, but police assured that efforts to apprehend others were ongoing.

On 21 September, during a human chain held near the Shaheed Minar on campus, students raised questions about two members of the investigation committee, naming Prof Dr Swadhin Sen and Prof Dr Anichha Parvin. 

They also submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor, demanding immediate identification and expulsion of the perpetrators involved in Shamim's murder, as well as ensuring maximum punishment. 

Hasib Jaman, a student from the 48th batch, at the human chain, said, "Two teachers who sought justice for Shamim Molla are part of the investigation committee. We have expressed concerns about this. If those seeking justice are in charge of the investigation, there's a risk of the process being influenced. We demanded dissolution of this committee and the formation of a new one for a swift and fair trial."

It was reported that on 19 September, a group of teachers submitted a memorandum to the vice-chancellor, calling for the immediate identification and expulsion of those involved in the Shamim murder through investigation, and ensuring justice. 

The memorandum included the names and signatures of Prof Swadhin and Prof Anichha Parvin.

Prof Swadhin was not included in the reconstituted probe committee, while Prof Anichha Parvin was part of it but she resigned from her position on Wednesday.

In her resignation letter, Anichha Parvin stated, "Various stakeholders within the university are openly engaged in different activities aimed at influencing and discrediting the investigation committee. Reports have been published in various media about the presence of responsible individuals from the current administration, such as the proctor and assistant proctors, at various stages of the assault." 

She added, "Under these circumstances, I have developed doubts and concerns about the ability of the investigation committee to operate fairly and impartially, free from influence and pressure, and to ensure justice."

Prof Swadhin was not available for comment.

Demands of students 

On 25 September, students again gathered at the Shaheed Minar, reiterating their demands for the withdrawal of the current case and the initiation of a new one upon investigation. 

Their other demands included ensuring appropriate punishment for those involved in the murder after a fair investigation, investigating the incidents leading to Shamim's death after he was handed over to the administration, and expelling the university's chief security officer Sudipta Shahin for his "controversial" role.

Ashraful Alam, a student from the Management Studies department, said, "Shamim Molla was beaten multiple times. Initially, a group handed him over to the Proctorial Team after the assault at Prantik Gate. Later, some students broke into the proctor's office security cell and beat him again. We want all involved to face justice based on their degree of involvement in a swift and impartial investigation."

In response to the students' demands, JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan said, "The demands raised by the students will be discussed in an administrative meeting, and a decision will be made thereafter."

During a press conference on Tuesday, Kamrul Ahsan noted that the prompt decision-making following Shamim Molla's death was "unprecedented" at the university. Yet, he said, some quarters were deliberately spreading misinformation against the university administration. 

The university administration has sued and suspended eight students over the incident.

Currently, only one person is behind bars in connection with the murder. He is Mahmudul Hasan Raihan, a student from the English Department, the third accused in the murder case filed against 11 people.  

He was arrested early on 22 September at a relative's house in the Rajendranagar area of Gazipur, as confirmed by Ashulia police. 

On 23 September, Raihan was presented before Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Zulhas Uddin in Dhaka, where he agreed to provide a confession in court, which was subsequently recorded before being remanded to jail.

A police officer from Ashulia Police Station stated, "Our efforts are still ongoing. We are currently focusing on apprehending the accused mentioned in the case. So far, we have arrested one individual, and his confession has been recorded."