DU suspends official, worker over alleged sabotage involvement

The Dhaka University (DU) authorities have suspended an official and an employee after preliminary probes suggested their involvement in recent crude bomb explosions and acts of sabotage on the campus.

The university has also served show-cause notices to the suspended official, Nipu Islam Tanwi, and suspended worker, Aman Ullah Aman, to explain the allegations and evidence against them.

Both were directly involved with Chhatra League, now a banned student group.

Nipu Islam currently works as a section officer at the Education-1 branch of the university's Registrar's Office. She was a president of Shamsun Nahar Hall Chhatra League.

Aman Ullah Aman worked as a sanitary supervisor at the university's Estate Office and have held several central-level positions in Chhatra League.

The university authorities have also issued him a show-cause notice, asking him to explain why further administrative action should not be taken against him. His whereabouts have remained unknown since the suspension, with sources concerned claiming that he has gone into hiding.

Aman is a third-class employee of the university. He studied in the Department of Islamic History and Culture during the 2013-14 academic session and became involved in Chhatra League politics while he was a student.

He later held several positions at the central level of the organisation. A letter circulated on social media claimed that the organisation had appointed him as a vice-president in its latest extended committee.

Aman's long involvement in BCL politics

Aman's involvement in Chhatra League politics dates back several years. According to sources from different levels of the organisation, he was a member of the committee led by former president Saifur Rahman Sohag and general secretary Md Zakir Hossain.

However, he did not secure any position in the subsequent committee led by Rezwanul Haque Chowdhury Shovon and Golam Rabbani.

Aman became active again in the organisation's central politics during the committee led by Al Nahian Khan Joy and Lekhak Bhattacharya. He was appointed deputy editor for books and publications in that committee.

Sources concerned said Aman was known to be close to former Chhatra League president Al Nahian Khan Joy and also maintained links with Golam Rabbani.

A letter claiming his appointment as a vice-president in the organisation's latest extended committee recently went viral on social media. Several of his followers congratulated him after the letter circulated.

However, social media users questioned the authenticity of the letter, pointing to differences in its colour and format compared with the appointment letters issued to other members of the extended committee.

Meanwhile, on 4 August 2024, at the height of the mass uprising, a procession of university officers and employees took place at the Registrar Building in support of the then government. Sources said Aman actively participated in the procession.

His long-standing involvement in Chhatra League politics and alleged activities during the mass uprising have also drawn criticism and discussion among different quarters of the university community.

Aman has also faced allegations of irregularities in the use of university residential facilities. Sources said he lived alone in room No 264 of Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall, despite the severe accommodation crisis that forces many regular students to share rooms.

He has also faced allegations of engaging in political activities during regular office hours. At different times, he was reportedly active on social media through political posts and other activities.

Attempts to contact Aman following the university administration's suspension decision were unsuccessful. His current whereabouts could not be independently confirmed, although sources claimed that he had gone into hiding.