Former VC Kalimullah shown arrested in Kafrul murder case

Former vice-chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, has been shown arrested in the murder case filed over the killing of Tarikul Islam Rubel in the capital’s Kafrul area during the July uprising.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Didarul Alam passed the order on Thursday (September 10) following a petition by the investigation officer. Kalimullah’s lawyer, Mohsin Reza, confirmed the matter.

During the hearing, the defence lawyer said Kalimullah held no political position and was a teacher by profession.

He was also arrested during the Awami League government’s tenure, the lawyer said. He claimed that the police had sought to show Kalimullah arrested in the case merely because he had served as the university’s vice-chancellor.

However, state prosecutor Shamsuddoha Sumon opposed the plea, saying Kalimullah had links with the Awami League and was involved in the killing of Tarikul Islam Rubel.

With the court’s permission, Kalimullah made a statement of his own. He said he had never been affiliated with any political party, either during his student life or throughout his career as a teacher.

He also claimed that he had been sent to jail after holding a press conference against then Education Minister Dipu Moni while serving as vice-chancellor.

Referring to Abu Sayed, a student of his university who was killed during the July uprising, Kalimullah said he had also spoken out in protest against Sayed’s killing. He described himself simply as a teacher.

Earlier, on August 7 last year, DB police arrested Kalimullah from his residence in Mohammadpur. He was subsequently sent to jail. Although the High Court granted him bail on June 14, his release was delayed as he was shown arrested in another case.

After recently securing bail in an attempted murder case filed with Uttara West Police Station, investigators sought to show him arrested in the Tarikul Islam Rubel murder case filed with Kafrul Police Station.

According to the case statement, Tarikul Islam Rubel had taken part in the anti-discrimination student movement in Kafrul on July 19, 2024.

At 8pm that day, protesters came under gunfire and attack. Rubel was shot in the head and died. A murder case was subsequently filed with Kafrul Police Station over the incident.