Police have arrested Mahmudul Haque, a teacher in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Begum Rokeya University (BRUR), Rangpur, in connection with the murder of a grocery shopkeeper. On Thursday, he was produced before the Metropolitan Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, which ordered his imprisonment. Prior to that, he was arrested from his residence in the Dhap area of the city. Confirming the matter, Shahinur Alam, inspector of the Metropolitan Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, told Ajker Patrika that Mahmudul Haque was presented before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court (Hajirhat) in the afternoon. Judge Soebur Rahman ordered his detention, and he was subsequently sent to jail.According to the case details:On August 2, 2024, members of the police, administration, and activists from the Awami League and its affiliated organizations reportedly threatened 65-year-old grocer Shomes Uddin at his shop in the Radhakrishnapur area of Ward No. 12. At that time, activists from the ruling party’s affiliated groups allegedly attacked him with weapons, leaving him critically injured and unconscious. The assailants, along with police officers, then fled the scene, leaving him behind. His family later rushed him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. On June 3, the victim’s wife, Amena Begum, filed a case at Hajirhat Police Station. Mahmudul Haque was named as the 54th accused in that case.Officer-in-charge of Hajirhat Police Station, Abdullah Al Mamun Shah, confirmed the arrest and court appearance of Mahmudul Haque in the Shomes Uddin murder case. Begum Rokeya University Registrar Dr. Harunur Rashid stated, “Our university’s teacher from the Mass Communication and Journalism department has been arrested by Hajirhat police in a murder case. However, this incident did not occur on campus; it is an external matter. We are looking into the issue.”Meanwhile, a Facebook post from Mahmudul Haque’s personal account stated:“This is the wife of Md. Mahmudul Haque writing. My husband, Md. Mahmudul Haque, Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, was arrested today around 3:30 PM from our residence in the Dhap area by officers of Rangpur Metropolitan Hajirhat Police Station and was taken directly to court in connection with a murder case. My husband has no involvement in such a crime. He is completely innocent. This is a deliberately fabricated false case. On behalf of his beloved students, respected colleagues, fellow journalists, and well-wishers, I seek your support.”Additionally, it is reported that Mahmudul Haque is a respected teacher at BRUR and a former journalist with 15 years of experience at New Age. He also serves as the Assistant Secretary for Information and Research in the Central Committee of the Bangabandhu Parishad.
