Suspect held over Mahid murder as agitated SUST students take to the streets

Hundreds of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) students, wearing shrouds on their heads, have demonstrated in Sylhet protesting the murder of the university’s student Mahid Al Salam. Around 9am, students gathered on the campus and held a human-chain protest before bringing out a procession that marched towards the city’s Central Shaheed Minar. Holding their protest program in front of the Shaheed Minar between 12pm and 1pm on Tuesday, they raised slogans demanding the immediate arrest and punishment of the muggers who allegedly killed Mahid. Leaders of both Awami League and BNP’s city units, along with general people, joined them during the demonstration. The students also blockaded the Chouhatta-Jindabazar road for a while. Later they submitted a memorandum to the district’s deputy commissioner. [caption id="attachment_255544" align="aligncenter" width="800"] A student raises slogans during a demonstration in Sylhet city protesting against the March 26 murder of SUST student Mahid Al Salam on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Dhaka Tribune[/caption] Sylhet Metropolitan Police’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md Abdul Wahab said one suspect has been detained by members of Rapid Action Battalion 9, but he could not provide any details.  

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Also Read- SUST student stabbed to death in Sylhet

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Mahid, a masters final year student at the Economics Department in SUST, died in the early hours of Monday after he was stabbed by several muggers in front of Hanif Hotel at South Surma’s Kadamtali area, police said quoting the puller of the rickshaw on which was Mahid was travelling. The rickshaw-puller had taken Mahid to a nearby pharmacy. From there, he was taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. But duty doctors declared him dead on arrival around 1:30am. [caption id="attachment_255546" align="aligncenter" width="800"] SUST students blockade a road in Sylhet city protesting against the March 26 murder of Mahid Al Salam during a demonstration on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 Dhaka Tribune[/caption] According to the rickshaw-puller, the assailants had also made away with Mahid’s phone and laptop, said South Surma police station Sub-Inspector Ripon. “Based on the rickshaw-puller’s statement, we are conducting drives to catch those muggers,” he added. Family members of Mahid, who worked for mobile phone operator Banglalink, told the Dhaka Tribune that police have already identified three muggers and raids are being conducted to catch them. Mahid was buried in the graveyard adjacent to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal followed by a namaz-e-janaza at the shrine after the Asr prayers on Tuesday. Family members also said Mahid was attacked by the muggers when he was going to Dhaka for a job interview.