BNP leader arrested over forcing RMBU VC to resign by inciting a mob
Photo: Agamir Somoy
Police have arrested a man named Abdus Salam (56) in connection with a case filed over creating a mob and forcing the Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi Medical University (RMU), Professor Dr. Md. Jawadul Haque, to sign a resignation letter. Police stated that although Salam was not named in the initial First Information Report (FIR), he was arrested after investigation revealed his involvement in the incident.
Abdus Salam is reported to be the vice-president of the Rajpara Thana unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Rajshahi city.
He was arrested on Tuesday (October 6) night during a drive in the Paramedical area of the city, where he resides.
Confirming the arrest, Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md. Gaziur Rahman said that the Vice-Chancellor's PS, Najmul Hossain, filed a case on Tuesday night against unnamed individuals as the plaintiff. Abdus Salam was arrested after the investigation linked him to the incident, and he was forwarded to court on Wednesday afternoon. Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining suspects swiftly.
According to reports, at around 11:30 AM on Tuesday, a group of people marched forcefully into the RMU Vice-Chancellor's office. The attackers reportedly accused the Vice-Chancellor of being an "associate" of the Awami League and criticized him for awarding university contracts to contractors from Dhaka. During the intrusion, they allegedly mistreated and physically assaulted him.
The group forced the Vice-Chancellor to sign a pre-written resignation letter. Afterward, they escorted everyone out of the office and locked the main gate of the university. It was also alleged that the CPU of the computer and CCTV equipment were removed from the Vice-Chancellor's room, while the electricity and internet connections across the entire campus were disconnected.
In response to these events, the Vice-Chancellor's PS, Najmul Hossain, filed a case at the Rajpara Police Station. The lawsuit did not list specific names, naming unidentified individuals as the accused instead. Abdus Salam was subsequently arrested based on findings during the ongoing investigation.
Confirming the arrest of the Rajpara Thana BNP vice-president, Rajshahi City BNP President Mamun-or-Rashid Mamun stated that a group of people had forcefully made the RMU Vice-Chancellor resign by creating a mob on Tuesday. He clarified that the BNP was not involved in the incident, adding that if anyone participated, they did so in their personal capacity. He emphasized that the BNP as a party is not connected to the event and stands firmly against mob violence, while also demanding strong legal action against any individual associated with the party who might be involved.
