The authorities of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) has temporarily suspended nine students following the unnatural death of Md Selim Hossain, a professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE).
The suspended students are: KUET unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) general secretary Sadman Nahian Sejan, and Md Riaj Khan Niloy, students of CSE department, Md Tahmidul Haque ishrak, and Mahmudul Hasan of CE department, Md Sadman Sakib, and ASM Ragib Ahsan Munna of LE department, Mohammad Quamaruzzaman and Faisal Ahmed Rifat of ME department, and Md Naiumur Rahman Antu of MSE department.
The KUET’s public relations (PR) and information department confirmed the matter on Saturday.
The PR department said the unnatural death of teacher was raised in an emergency meeting of the Syndicate Committee. The suspension decision was taken as the committee found the primary authenticity of the allegation of misconduct of the students after analyzing the CCTV footage and other information.
Earlier on Friday, the authorities closed the university until December 13 and instructed students to leave their respective halls by 4:00pm on the day.
The development came as a tense situation has been prevailing on the campus since the death of the EEE professor Selim on November 30.
He was also the provost of Lalan Shah Hall of the university.
Students and teachers alleged that the BCL activists mentally tortured him centering an election of dining manager of the hall.
The KUET Teachers’ Association on Thursday called for abstention from academic activities over the death until an action is taken after scrutinizing the CCTV footage.
However, the university authorities formed a three-member probe committee to investigate the incident.
It was learnt that a group of students, led by KUET unit BCL general secretary Sadman Nahian Sejan, confronted Selim at noon of November 30 over the election after intercepting his way on the campus.
They then, went to the teacher’s office and held a closed-door meeting with him for about half an hour.
Later, Selim returned his residence adjacent to the campus for lunch.
As he did not get out from the bathroom after a long while and his wife Rita Khanam did not get any response despite several times of calling, they broke open the door and found him unconscious.
He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.
The KUET teacher died of cardiac arrest, Rita said quoting the hospital physicians.
