Assistant professor hacked to death, old woman set on fire by agitated mob

A college teacher named Rezaul Karim (53) was hacked to death by miscreants in Singra, Natore. The murder took place at 11 pm on Wednesday (January 21) in Kumarpara village of Kalam union of the upazila. The deceased teacher Rezaul Karim is the son of Chabed Ali Bepari of Kumarpara village and an assistant professor of the history department of Bilhalti Trimohani Degree College.
He is said to be a member of Singra Upazila Zia Parishad and an employee of Dhan Sheesh nominated candidate Principal Anwarul Islam Anur. However, immediately after the incident, an agitated mob, suspecting his involvement in the murder, set fire to the house of Abdul Wahab, a grocery shopkeeper in Kalam Kumarpara village. And in that fire, grocery shopkeeper Abdul Wahab’s mother Chabiha Bewar (75) died. Seven tin houses were also burnt in the fire.
Upon receiving the news, Singra UNO Abdullah Al Rifat, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Singra Circle) Nur Mohammad Ali and other administration officials visited the scene of the incident that night. Meanwhile, teachers and students of the college formed a human chain and protest meeting at Bilhalti Trimohani Degree College premises at 10 am today, Thursday, in protest of the murder. College Principal Golam Sarwar presided over the program.
On the other hand, the Upazila and Municipal BNP announced a protest meeting at Singra bus stand at around 12 noon on the same day, and the teachers’ association of all levels of the upazila announced a human chain program in front of the Upazila administrative building at 3 pm.
In this regard, the nephew of the deceased, former general secretary of Kalam Union BNP Haider Rashid Ripon said on his mobile phone that his uncle had returned home from the market to offer Isha prayers and eat food and went out to walk on the street in front of the house. At that time, identified terrorists of the area, Abdul Karim and Alauddin Munshi and their forces hacked him and slit his throat and fled.
He further said, “No one in the area had any dispute with his uncle. This murder was committed to unite the teaching community in favor of the paddy sheaf candidate, Principal Anwarul Islam Anu.” He claimed that an attempt was being made to cover up this brutal and planned murder by setting fire to the house themselves and blaming them. He demanded the immediate arrest of the murderers. In this context, Shamim Hossain, former organizing secretary of the upazila BNP, said that identified terrorists in the area committed this brutal murder. BNP has organized a protest meeting at Singra bus stand at 12 noon today in protest of this murder. Singra Police Inspector (Investigation) Shafiqul Islam said that the murder was committed by hitting the deceased multiple times on the neck and face. So far, two bodies have been recovered. Preparations for the autopsy are underway and the matter is under investigation.