A teacher of Shaheed M Monsur Ali Medical College in Sirajganj shot at a student in the classroom on Monday afternoon for not agreeing to attend his untimely class.
The teacher, Raihan Uddin, is a lecturer of the community medicine department of the medical college.
The injured, Arafat Abir Tamal, a third-year student, was admitted to the hospital with a wound in the right thigh, according to police officials.
The injury was not as severe as it could have been as the bullet first hit the mobile phone in the student’s pocket, they said.
Siarjganj district Superintendent of Police Arifur Rahman said Police detained Raihan following the incident. ‘We have seized the pistol of the teacher and checking whether it is legal.’
Witnesses said some students had an altercation with the teacher as he forced students to do class untimely and, at one stage, the teacher opened fire with his pistol at the students, leaving Tamal injured.
After the incident, the students assaulted the teacher and he managed to flee the scene.
A tense situation was prevailing on the college campus as the students protested at the incident and demanded his removal and punishment. Students also blocked the nearby highway at that time.
Additional police forces were deployed to avoid any untoward situations, said police officials.
College principal Amirul Hossain Chowdhury told New Age that ‘Today I am really shocked over the incident of the shooting.’
‘The teacher often behaves harshly with the students, and the students often complain against him for bringing pistols to class,’ he said, adding, ‘Earlier, I sent several letters to the health department for his transfer from here.’
‘We are embarrassed over the incident,’ said Sirajganj Civil Surgeon Ram Pada Roy.
Zahidul Islam Hira, former general secretary of Shadhinota Shikkhok Parishad, a platform of physicians backed by the ruling Awami League, said, ‘We heard that he was an activist of the Bangladesh Chhatra League while studying at Rajshahi Medical College.’
The teacher, Raihan Uddin, was not available for his comment despite repeated attempts over the phone.
