Investigation committee formed over IU teacher murder

The university administration has formed a five-member investigation committee over the murder of Asma Sadia Runa, chairperson of the Social Welfare department at Islamic University in Kushtia.

Acting Registrar Professor Md Manjurul Haque confirmed the matter after an emergency administrative meeting on Saturday afternoon, March 7.

He said the committee has been instructed to investigate the cause and circumstances of the murder and submit a report quickly.

Professor Md Mizanur Rahman of the Accounting and Information Systems department has been made convener of the investigation committee, with Deputy Registrar (Education) Md Golam Mawla as member secretary.

Other members are—Professor Rashiduzzaman of the Bengali department, Student Adviser Professor Obaidul Islam, and Lalon Shah Hall Provost Professor Gazi Arifuzzaman Khan.

Committee convener Professor Mizanur Rahman said he has heard about the matter but has not yet received official documents. The investigation plan will be determined through discussions with committee members, and efforts will be made to submit the report as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, teachers, students and relatives held a human chain in front of Kushtia Press Club on Saturday demanding protest against the teacher's murder, arrest of those involved, and exemplary punishment.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Asma Sadia Runa, chairperson of the Social Welfare department, was stabbed in her office at the university's Theology and Islamic Studies faculty building. University employee Fazlur Rahman was recovered from the scene with throat injuries.

Later, when police took them to hospital, doctors declared Asma Sadia Runa dead.

The day after the incident, on Thursday, following the burial, the victim's husband Muhammed Imtiaz Sultan filed a case naming four individuals as accused. The case alleges that an employee carried out the murder at the instigation and direction of three colleagues due to internal disputes and various incidents within the department.

Among the accused in the case are former department head Assistant Professor Shyam Sundar Sarkar, Assistant Professor Habibur Rahman, and former Assistant Registrar Bishwajit Kumar Biswas. The accused employee Khondakar Fazlur Rahman is currently undergoing treatment at Kushtia General Hospital.

The deceased Asma Sadia Runa was a resident of Philipnagar area in Daulatpur upazila, Kushtia. In personal life, she was the mother of three daughters and one son.