Aklakur Rahman Akash and Md Asaduz Zaman

A Chhatra League leader of Jahangirnagar University allegedly fired several rounds of bullets targeting a college teacher, as he protested his peddling drugs in the area. Meanwhile, the teacher was able to save himself and one of the bullets hit an associate of that BCL leader.

The incident took place around 6:30pm on Thursday near the residence of Dr Monsur Ali, the college teacher. Dr Ali filed a case with Ashulia Police Station on Friday night over the incident against seven persons.

He is a lecturer at JU School and College in Pandhoa Purba Para area, right behind JU campus, said police and local sources.

The accused BCL leader is Shamim Osman Gani Mollah, a student of history department at JU and organising secretary of the university unit of BCL. The injured is his associate Abul Hossen, who is now undergoing treatment at a hospital under police custody, said law enforcers.

According to locals and police, a gang, led by Shamim and one Hassan (a JU student), has been involved in peddling drugs in the area for a while. Locals often protested it but to no avail, they said.

On Thursday evening, Shamim, Hassan and their five associates gathered near Dr Ali’s house and parked their four motorbikes there. When he asked them to move those, they allegedly misbehaved with him.

As he protested, Shamim fired three rounds of bullets at him and one of the bullets hit his associate Abul Hossain’s right hand, Dr Ali told The Daily Star.

“I was lucky that it [the bullet] did not hit me,” he said. “I’ve been living in this area for a long time. It’s a family neighbourhood and we try to keep it safe for our children.”

“But I’ve been noticing presence of drug peddlers here, and had been protesting that.” Later, the matter was reported to police, he added.

Dr Ali further alleged that Shamim and Hassan, a year ago, misbehaved with his neighbour Prof Habibullah as he too protested their drug peddling.

This newspaper also spoke with Prof Habibullah, who is currently working at National Curriculum and Textbook Board.

He said a group of youth led by Shamim and Hassan wanted to beat him with a stick in front of his house. “We did not say anything about it and kept quiet,” he added.