The mother of Cumilla University student Ishayat Shahriar, known as Apratim, has raised questions about two possible factors that she believes could be linked to her son’s killing.
Nahida Begum, an associate professor in the university’s Department of Bengali, suspects that the murder could be connected to the recent employment of a teenage boy at her husband’s business. She has also asked investigators to examine whether the killing could be related to an incident in which she handed over several teenage gang members to police while serving as an assistant proctor at Cumilla University.
Her concerns were conveyed by a colleague, Associate Professor Kamrun Nahar, during a protest and mourning procession organised by the Cumilla University Teachers’ Association on Monday.
According to Nahar, one of the teenagers arrested in connection with Apratim’s murder, a 16-year-old from the nearby Salmanpur area, had reportedly started working at Apratim’s father’s business around 10 days before the killing.
Nahida has urged investigators to determine whether the boy’s employment at the business had any connection to the subsequent murder.
She has also raised questions about the ages of two of the people arrested in the case. According to Nahar, the mother believes that two accused individuals have been identified as minors and has called for their actual ages to be independently verified. She suggested that DNA testing could be considered if necessary to establish their ages.
Nahida has further called for legal reforms, if necessary, to ensure that those responsible for serious crimes receive appropriate punishment.
Previous action against teenage gangs
Another concern raised by Apratim’s mother relates to her time as an assistant proctor at Cumilla University.
Nahar said Nahida had handed over several members of local teenage gangs to police during an anti-drug operation. According to Nahida’s account, the gang was allegedly led by the principal accused in the murder case, Saiful Islam, also known as Tuhin, 19.
She has asked authorities to investigate whether that earlier incident had any connection to her son’s killing.
At Monday’s protest, speakers also called for a broader investigation to determine whether anyone other than those already arrested was involved in the murder.
Professor Md Shahadat Hossain, acting president of the Cumilla University chapter of Utab, said they had met with the Cumilla deputy commissioner and superintendent of police. He urged authorities to bring any additional suspects to justice if evidence of their involvement emerges.
Hossain also said teenage gang activity exists in areas surrounding Cumilla University and called on law enforcement agencies to take immediate action against such groups.
Teachers demand swift justice
Shamima Nasrin, convener of the Cumilla University Teachers’ Association, said Apratim’s killing should not be viewed solely as an incident involving the university community.
“Apratim’s murder is not only an incident concerning Cumilla University; it is also a reflection of the crisis in the country’s law-and-order situation,” she said.
She called on the authorities to take swift and effective measures, stressing that university teachers and students had rallied behind Apratim’s family, while many other victims of violence across the country do not have anyone to speak for them.
“The responsibility for ensuring their safety lies with the authorities,” she said.
University Proctor Professor Abdul Hakim also called for an expedited trial in the murder case.
“Apratim was our child. How many more human chains will we hold?” he said, urging authorities to take action against teenage gangs not only around Cumilla University but across the country.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Amzad Hossain Sarker, members of the teachers’ association, deans, department heads and residential hall provosts were among those present at the protest. Teachers also held a mourning procession on the campus before the human chain.
Apratim’s disappearance and death
Apratim, a seventh-grade student at Cumilla Border Guard Public School, went missing after leaving his rented home in the Gandhamati area of Kotbari, Cumilla, on Friday afternoon.
His body was recovered the following afternoon from an isolated forest in the Lalmai hills at Sananda village under Bijoypur Union of Sadar Dakshin upazila.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder.
While investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the killing, Apratim’s mother has urged authorities to investigate the possible links she has identified and to determine whether others were involved.