Pro-AL Blue Panel nominates alleged war criminal's brother Rafiqul for DU dean election

The pro-Awami League teachers' panel has nominated Dr Rafiqul Islam for the election to the post of the faculty dean at Dhaka University despite objections for his being the brother of an alleged war criminal.

The nomination by the Blue Panel for the election to the post of Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology was finalised on Sunday, sociology department Professor Mashiur Rahman told bdnews24.com.

The proposal to nominate him for the election was sent back to the related subcommittee in a meeting of the panel on Saturday after the reservations to the proposal was raised.

Mashiur, quoting another senior teacher, said four names were proposed as alternative to Dr Rafiqul but a group of teachers supported him strongly.

Rafiqul, a professor of applied chemistry and chemical engineering department, had earlier become the dean of the faculty with the support of the Blue Panel.

Islamic history and culture department Assistant Professor Md Abdur Rahim told bdnews24.com Saturday night that the objection was raised after the information that Rafiqul's brother late Chittagong University teacher Rezaul Karim had faced allegation of war crimes.

“Many of the teachers in the Blue Panel supported the objection," Rahim said.

Referring to a report titled 'Sei Razakar' (The Collaborator), published on the Daily Janakantha, Rahim also said Rezaul Karim was known as 'Rizu' in Magura when he allegedly committed the war crimes during the 1971Liberation War.

“He reportedly fled to Chittagong after the war and took the name Rezaul Karim Mamun," Rahim said.

Chittagong University sacked Rezaul from the Islamic history and culture department after the Awami League came to power in 1996.

Rezaul moved the High Court and had his removal order stayed.

Before the High Court settled the case, he died after the Awami League returned to power in 2009.

He was buried in Feni as protesters did not allow his body into Magura.