The New Nation - Internet Edition

Rajshahi Correspondent

Rajshahi speedy trial court yesterday fixed December 6 for delivering verdict in the case against 14 persons including two Rajshahi University teachers for torching DGFI vehicle during campus violence on August 22.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate M Ruhul Amin heard the day-long arguments of state and defense lawyers and fixed the date of verdict.

Two teachers, Dr Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan Sajal, Dr Sabbir Sattar Tapu and RU deputy chief information officer Sadekul Islam and former RU vice chancellor Faisul Islam Faruki's driver Ataur Rahman were produced before the court.

Additional public prosecutor Masum Ahmed Tipu and court sub inspector Shamsul Alam claimed in argument that the prosecution proved allegations on the basis of a video cassette, mobile phone call list and 24 prosecution witnesses (PW). They demanded highest punishment against the accused persons under the law.

Defense lawyers Golam Arif Tipu, Hamidul Haque and Mansur Ahmed argued for the accused.

Defence Lawyer Tipu claimed, implicating two RU teachers in the case was a conspiracy and allegations against them of ordering the torching of DGFI vehicle over mobile phones is false.

He pointed out, the prosecution submitted mobile phone call lists of a period between 9.38am to 12.30pm, but the DGFI vehicle entered the campus on 2.15pm and the incident occurred at 2.30pm.

Moreover, the investigation officer could not describe what was told (by the teachers) while ordering the attack on DGFI vehicle, he said.

He added, the mobile phone call list was collected on September 23, but the allegation of ordering through mobile phones was made on August 23 and charges were pressed on September 1.

Hamidul Haque in his argument cited the mobile phone call list issue and said, there are things in the first information report and the charge sheet as if the Ramayana had been written before the birth of Ram.

He said, the prosecution side claimed a video footage was the main basis of the case, but the video footage was never displayed before the court despite requests.

Depositions of plaintiff and PWs revealed that the video footage was seen on August 26 and 30, how then the accused persons were identified on August 23 as claimed in the FIR.

The defense lawyers said, the two teachers (who are key-witnesses of RU professor S Taher Ahmed murder case against six persons including RU teacher Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin and Shibir leader Salehi) are victims of a conspiracy by a vested quarter in the university.

Shawkat Ali, an assistant director of Rajshahi DGFI lodged the case on August 23 accusing two teachers and four students. Later on September 1, the sub inspector Mukhtar Hossain pressed charges against total 14 persons.

The plaintiff alleged that he was assaulted and his government vehicle was torched during the campus violence on August 22. He alleged the two teachers instigation the violent students over mobile phones to set fire to his vehicle.

Absconding accused are -- Bangladesh Chhatra League RU unit secretary Ayenuddin, Dipayan Sarkar, Mizanur Rahman Mithu, Sardar Ayaz, SM Fakrul Islam Raihan, Abu Sayem, Shamim Ahmed, Kazi A Latif, Shakhawat Hossain, Aziz Bin Kamal.

Meanwhile, the verdict in another case against six RU teachers for observing strike, bringing out protest procession on August 21 and instigating students to be violent on August 22 violating the emergency power rules is likely to be given on December 4.