RUET sacks pro-Awami League teacher, three other officials for ‘opposing July protests’

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, or RUET, has dismissed four staff members, including a pro-Awami League teacher and officials, over their alleged involvement in suppressing the July-August student movement and other charges.

The decision was made during the university’s 108th syndicate meeting on Thursday, according to a statement signed by Golam Mourtuza, deputy director of RUET’s public relations office.

Those dismissed are Siddhartha Sankar Saha, an assistant professor in the chemistry department and leader of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Swechchhasebak League, Naim Rahman Nibir, an assistant engineer in the engineering department and former president of the Chhatra League RUET chapter, Md Mahidul Islam, a data processor in the physics department, and Harun or Roshid, an engineer in the planning and development office and former convener of Chhatra League.

The statement said Naim and Mohidul were found to be involved in an incident on Aug 4, 2024, where they allegedly entered the university’s main gate armed with sharp weapons, chased students with the intent to kill and carried out bomb attacks.

Siddhartha was accused of taking an anti-July movement stance and insulting injured and dead students, which led general students to declare him unwelcome on campus.

They later launched protests and submitted an application demanding his dismissal.

Harun is accused of instigating the suppression of student protests, engaging in recruitment trade, and being involved in tender manipulation, the statement read.