Police yesterday claimed to have important information regarding the killers of Rajshahi University teacher Rezaul Karim Siddiquee.

They expressed optimism that they would soon be able to make significant progress in probing the murder case.

Commissioner Muhammad Shamsuddin of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) said three youths took part in the killing of the 58-year-old professor of English.

Two of them carried a machete and a big knife. The other sped off with the two on a motorbike after committing the murder in a minute or two, the RMP chief told The Daily Star.

Quoting witnesses and the post mortem report, he said the killers first hit Rezaul in his neck from behind and then slit the teacher's throat to confirm his death.

Seeking anonymity, a top RMP official quoting witnesses said the killers shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the killing.  “We are trying to identify the killers. We've reliable information about the physical appearance of the killers.”

Ten police teams have been probing the murder case while a six-member police team, led by the additional commissioner of RMP, is monitoring the investigation, he added.

Cops said they quizzed a cross-section of people, including the victim's family members, his fellow villagers, RU teachers and students and traders of the crime scene, regarding the murder.

Prof Rezaul was hacked to death near his Shalbagan home in Rajshahi city around 7:40am on April 23 when he was on his way to the campus.

His son Riasat Imtiaz Shourav filed a murder case with Boalia Police Station on the same day, accusing unnamed people of the murder.

The Detective Branch of Rajshahi police is probing the case. It has so far detained three people for interrogation.

The three are RU Shibir leader Hafijur Rahman, a second year student of public administration; RU student Khairul Islam and Raihan Ali, imam of a mosque at Dargamaria village.

Police, however, released madrasa teacher Mansur Rahman, who was detained at Khazapara village of Bagmara, said DB sources.

PROTEST CONTINUES

Rajshahi University students continued their demonstrations yesterday, demanding immediate arrest of the killers of Prof Rezaul. Hundreds of students brought out a silent procession on the campus.

Around 10:00am, they blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway near the campus for about half an hour. They chanted slogans against militancy during the blockade.

TEACHERS TO ABSTAIN FROM WORK

Public university teachers across the country will stay away from work for three hours and stage demonstrations on May 2, demanding trial of the killers of Prof Rezaul.

The decision was made in an emergency meeting of teachers at the Teachers' Club at Dhaka University yesterday, said a press release.

Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed, president of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association, said teachers will abstain from work from 10:00am to 1:00pm, wearing black badges. They will stage demonstrations on the university campuses from 12:00pm to 1:00 pm.