Allegations have it that charge sheet of the murder case could not be submitted earlier due to 'interference' by some leaders of the former four-party alliance government.

Prof S Taher Ahmed, a senior teacher of Geology and Mining Department, was missing on February 1 last year. His body was found on February 3 inside a septic tank behind his campus residence.

Talking to this correspondent, Dr. Taher's son Sanjid Alvi Ahmed said, local detective branch (DB) police completed investigation into the murder in May and sought home ministry's permission to press charges against the accused.

But they were denied permission on a 'lame excuse' that a 'witness was still unavailable', he said.

In the mean time, one of the accused --Prof Mia Mohammad Mohiuddin of the same department--obtained bail from the High Court (HC) and was freed from jail due to delay in submission of charge sheet.

Another key suspect--RU Islami Chhatra Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi--avoided arrest under cover of political pressure and finally got anticipatory bail from HC.

Salehi who was moving freely on the campus earlier, went into hiding after proclamation of emergency, said sources.

The sources also claimed that a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader, during the tenure of the immediate past four-party alliance government, had abused former Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed (now DMP commissioner) at a meeting for including Shibir leader Salehi in the list of accused. Later he was transferred from his post.

"I met former IGP (Inspector General of Police) Khoda Bux Chowdhury several times when he was in charge of the home ministry cell for monitoring sensational cases.

"He always reasoned that the case lacked a key-witness", said Sanjid Alvi Ahmed.

Investigation officer of the case, Sub-inspector Achhanul (Achhanul) Kabir of DB police, said, "The case is ready for charge sheet. We are just waiting for necessary clearance from high-ups.

"Every step of the investigation was done within the knowledge of the court...and so the accused have no way to escape, once charges are pressed", he said.

Alleged mastermind Prof Mia Muhammad Mohiuddin and killer-suspects Zahangir, Salam, Nazmul were arrested within a week of the murder in February last year.

Three arrestees provided judicial confessions and five of the 43 witnesses gave judicial statements proving that Dr. Mohiuddin and Shibir leader Salehi had engaged Zahangir, Salam and Nazmul to kill Dr. Taher for their personal and political gains, police sources said seeking anonymity.

Dr. Mohiuddin masterminded the murder apprehending damage to his career by Dr. Taher who found truth in allegations of 'piracy' in his (Mohiuddin) 10 research papers out of 11 submitted with his promotion prayer.

Meanwhile, teachers, students and staffs of Geology and Mining department will hold a condolence meeting today at the Second Science Building gallery to observe the first death anniversary of the department's founding teacher Prof Taher.

University authorities have not chalked up any programme for the day.

The department's chairman Prof Syed Shamshuddin Ahmed told newsman that they would hold a condolence meeting on the campus today.

Progressive Teachers Society (PTS), a pro-Awami League teachers' body, yesterday criticised the university authorities for not planning any programme to observe the death anniversary. It also demanded immediate submission of the charge sheet and ensure punishment to the killers.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Samjtantrik Chhatra Front (SCF) and Progressive Student Alliance (PSA) in separate statements also demanded immediate submission of the charge sheet.