The authorities of Islamic University in Kushtia issued show-cause notices to two student leaders allegedly for making unsubstantiated public statements about the killing of its student Sajid Abdullah.
The notices, signed by Proctor Professor M Shahinuzzaman on Monday, were served to Ismail Hossain Rahat, president of the university unit Islami Chhatra Andolan, and M Shamim, general secretary of Jamiat Talabae Arabiya.
They have been directed to submit written explanations within three working days.
At a rally on October 26 organised to mark 100 days since the death of Sajid, a student of Al-Quran and Islamic Studies department, the two student leaders reportedly claimed that 鈥榯he university administration knows the identity of the killer but is reluctant to allow an arrest for fear of unrest on the campus鈥�.
The reported comments quickly spread on the social media, sparking reactions from the students and teachers.
Rahat later clarified that his statement was not an assertion of fact.
鈥業 was quoting a previous speaker,鈥� he told journalists when they approached him on Tuesday.
鈥榃e only expressed concern that if such knowledge exists, the administration should support law enforcement agencies without hesitation. It was a speculative remark with no verified source,鈥� said Rahat.
Shamim acknowledged his comment was made in haste.
鈥楾here were already rumors circulating online. I mistakenly said, 鈥淚 learned鈥� which implied personal knowledge鈥攖hat was a slip of the tongue. I regret it. Repeating unverified information was a mistake,鈥� he told journalists when they approached him on the day.
Contacted, Criminal Investigation Department officer Saiful Islam said, 鈥榃e have never discussed the suspect鈥檚 identity with them. They appear to have spoken on their own accord.鈥�
Sajid Abdullah was found dead in a pond near Shah Azizur Rahman Hall on July 16 this year.
A forensic report later confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia due to strangulation, classifying the case as homicide.
The CID took over the investigation on September 14, but no arrests have been made so far, while student demonstrations are going on demanding justice.
