A female student of Barisal University (BU) was murdered Thursday by a class mate, with whom she had been romantically involved. The fatal attack came after the victim had allegedly broken off their relationship.
The deceased was identified as Saoda, 18, a first year accounting student at the university, and daughter of a freedom fighter.
Her alleged attacker was identified as Russell Mia, 20, a second year management student.
According to witnesses, when Saoda was leaving her dorm Thursday morning, Russell attacked her with a sharp weapon and then fled the scene.
Saoda had severe injuries to her head and on various parts of her body. She was taken to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, and later flown to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 1:30pm, accompanied by two lecturers from BU.
Dr Nazrul Islam of SBMCH said: “Saoda was operated on here, but the injury to her head was too severe so we recommended taking her to Dhaka for better treatment when her condition had stablised a little, but she was not completely out of danger.”
Barisal Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shakhawat Hossain and BU’s public relations officer Bahauddin Golap confirmed that Saoda had died.
An emergency meeting was called by BU authorities where it was decided to expel Russell.
Police were still trying to find and arrest Russell, who has not been seen since the incident, said the OC
Saoda’s classmate Salma said Russell called her from a number (01853885898) around 1:35pm and threatened that anyone speaking in favour of Saodo would face the same treatment as her.
Vice-Chancellor of BU Prof Harunor Rashid said: “They were engaged in an affair. After Saoda’s family pressured her she began to avoid him and ended the relationship.”
Russell’s mother Renu Begum however said her son and Saoda were in love, and that they had approached Saoda’s family with a marriage proposal in July.
She said: “Our son is brilliant and we are bearing the cost of his education by rearing livestock and farming. Saoda’s guardian not only refused our marriage proposal on that day, but also humiliated and assaulted us because we are poor and do not belong to their social status.”
Renu Begum said after that Russell became mentally disturbed and added: “If he attacked Saoda, he might even commit suicide.”
Students and teachers of BU brought out a procession on campus to demand immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attacker.
