Teachers, students and staffs of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday urged the chief adviser (CA) to caretaker government to start trial of the murder case of Prof S Taher Ahmed of geology and mining department who was killed on February 1, 2006.

At a condolence meeting, they also expressed deep concern over the failure of the previous government to initiate the trial process of the sensational killing.

The meeting decided to observe February 1 as mourning day in honour of their favourite teacher.

It also decided to name the research laboratory of the department after the name of Taher Ahmed.

The condolence meeting held at the seminar room of the geology and mining department with its Chairman Prof Sayed Shamsuddin Ahmed in the chair.

Department teachers Prof Hamidur Rahman, Sultanul Islam, Sabbir Sattar Tapu, Anwarul Islam, Shafiqul Alam and Sarwar Jahan while students Bazlur Rashid, Mahbubul Alam, Niharranjan and Jillur Rahman spoke on the occasion.

Prof Sarwar Jahan said after getting bail, the killers of Taher have been plotting fresh conspiracy to kill other teachers.

He demanded exemplary punishment to the culprits so that they cannot dare to commit such brutality in future.

Earlier, more than 500 teachers and students collected mass signatures and faxed a memorandum to the chief adviser demanding immediate start of the trial of the case.

Meanwhile, Progressive Teachers' Society (PTS), a pro-Awami League teachers' body, Bangladesh Chhatra League, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Progressive Student Alliance in separate statements slated university authorities for not holding any condolence meeting in memory of slain Prof Taher.

They also demanded immediate submission of charge sheet to ensure punishment to the killers.