BNP leader arrested over forced resignation of Rajshahi Medical University VC

Police have arrested a BNP leader in a case filed over allegations that Rajshahi Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Zawadul Haque was forcibly made to sign a resignation letter at his office.

The arrested man was identified as Abdus Salam, 56, vice-president of the BNP’s Rajpara thana unit. Police arrested him from his residence in the Paramedical area of Rajshahi late Tuesday night.

Gaziur Rahman, spokesperson for Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, confirmed the arrest.

Police said Nazmul Hossain, the vice-chancellor’s personal assistant, filed the case with Rajpara Police Station on Tuesday night, and it was registered the same night. Salam was arrested based on the case.

According to university officials, a group of around 20 to 25 people allegedly entered the university’s temporary office on Tuesday under the leadership of Sharifuzzaman Shamim, president of the Rajshahi city unit of the Krishak Dal.

Officials said the group also included Al Mostak Shaheen, president of Ward 6 of the Rajshahi city BNP, former member of the city BNP convening committee Kamal, and Zia Mancha leaders Bulbul and Laltu.

The group allegedly pressured Zawadul to sign a resignation letter without allowing him to read it. When Nazmul Hossain tried to intervene, he was allegedly assaulted. He was later also forced to sign another resignation letter, according to university officials.

The group allegedly took away the two signed resignation letters, along with the vice-chancellor’s mobile phone and laptop. University officials later found that CCTV equipment had been removed from the office, while electricity, internet and other communication systems had been disconnected. Several rooms were also locked, disrupting the university’s regular activities.

Zawadul said some of those who entered his office appeared to have links to local contractors, while others were outsiders allegedly backed by political groups. He said the group accused him of favouring Dhaka-based companies over local contractors in awarding university projects and labelled him an “Awami League stooge”.

According to the vice-chancellor, the group forcibly obtained his signature on the resignation letter, removed him from his office and later locked the office. He subsequently informed the local administration and filed a general diary online.

Meanwhile, doctors staged a human chain in Rajshahi on Wednesday to protest the incident and demand punishment for those involved. The protest was held in front of the main gate of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital under the banner of the “Medical Community of Rajshahi”.

Dr Shafiqul Islam, associate professor of gastroenterology at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, condemned what he described as mob pressure on the vice-chancellor and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

Doctors and medical students at the protest said such incidents threaten the safety and dignity of teachers and healthcare professionals and called for action against those involved.

The case and the arrest come a day after the alleged forced resignation, as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.