Locals block, set fire along Dhaka-Rajshahi highway after college student's death on RU campus

In the wake of the death of a Rajshahi College student in a reported accident on the Rajshahi University (RU) campus, local residents blocked and lit fires along the Rajshahi-Dhaka highway in the Binodpur area adjacent to the university alleging the student was murdered.

The blockade began at 7pm today (24 January) and continued until 8:45pm, calling for a proper investigation into the incident and the arrest of anyone responsible.

They also announced that they will block the highway from 11am tomorrow (25 January).

The deceased was identified as Shimul Shihab, a first-year student of the Political Science Department of Rajshahi College, from the Meherchandi Budhpara area of Rajshahi city.

The university authorities claimed it was a bike accident.

Citing doctors, RU officials said there was no scratch on Shimul's body except an injury to the head.

Shimul's family and the protesters alleged that he was murdered on the RU campus.

Mohammad Shukur Ali, a resident of Binodpur, said, "This was a planned murder. The university administration bears full responsibility for this. This incident should be properly investigated and action should be taken against those responsible."

Jahangir Alam, a resident of the Mirzapur area, said, "Shimul was also killed and a bike accident was staged. The accident is completely fabricated."

A severely injured Shimul was rescued from the RU campus at 11pm on Thursday and taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), where the doctor on duty declared him dead.

What RU administration says

RU Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman said Shimul was standing behind the university's Third Science Building with a girl when the assistant proctor was conducting a regular patrol on the campus in the university proctor's car.

"During the patrol, we saw a boy and a girl standing behind the building with a bike. They tried to escape hastily on their bike after seeing the proctor's car," Mahbubur said.

"Construction work was ongoing on the road they were using to flee. There were rods on the road. An accident occurred while they were passing over the rod. The boy fell on the road and lost consciousness," he added.

The proctor said students were playing badminton in the field nearby. Seeing the bike fall, they came forward. The proctor's patrol car behind also went there. Finding the boy unconscious, they first took him to the university medical center and later to RMCH by ambulance, where the doctors on duty declared him dead.

"Police have also questioned the girl and she told them the boy died in an accident. There were no injury marks on his body except on his head," Mahbubur stated. 

A three-member inquiry committee has been formed with the university's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Mohammad Main Uddin as the convener over Shimul's death.

The committee has been asked to submit a report soon.

What Shimul's family says

Jamal, the deceased's father, said, "We don't know anything about how he died. If there were an accident, his body would have injury marks. At least there would be scratch marks."

"There would be marks of damage to the motorcycle, but there were none. Also, no injury marks were found on the girl either," he added.

What police say

Motihar Police Station OC Md Abdul Malek said no complaint was filed as of 8:50pm today by Shimul's family over his death.

"The boy was chased from all sides. Getting scared, he pulled his motorcycle in a haste and fell in front of the Third Science Building," he said. 

"A girl accompanying the boy, however, told us that the boy was hit on the head with a badminton bat," he added.

Shimul's body has been handed over to the family after an autopsy.

"The girl who was reportedly with him has been kept at the Victim Support Centre," added OC Malek.