A student poured kerosene on a teacher at a private university in Chittagong.
The incident took place at the district's University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) around 12:30pm on Tuesday.
According to eyewitnesses and police, several students got into an altercation with veteran English literature Professor Dr ABM Masud Mahmood in front of an office room at the university.
Later, some students boarded a lift with Prof Masud and as he was about to exit the lift, the students pushed and shoved him and Mahmudul Hasan, 23, a USTC English Department masters' student poured kerosene on him.
Following the attack, the same students demonstrated for half an hour inside the university campus on Zakir Hossain Road and fled the spot upon arrival of the police.
Later, Mahmudul was arrested by the police and is currently in custody.
Confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune, Khulshi police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Pranab Chowdhury said: "Mahmudul has confessed to us that he poured kerosene on the USTC teacher.
"The other students involved in this incident also confessed that Madmudul was the one who, 'being excited,' poured kerosene on the teacher."
"This could have been a very a serious accident. USTC authorities have lodged a case with us regarding the incident," Pranab added.
USTC authorities have formed a three-member probe committee in connection with the incident.
Contacted, USTC Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Jahangir Alam, said: "We have lodged a case in connection with the incident. A three-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the incident and submit a report within two working days."
Prof DR ABM Masud Mahmood served the English Department of Chittagong University for 40 years. Following his retirement, USTC appointed him as advisor to their English Department three years ago.
Addressing the proceedings, Masud said: "After joining USTC I terminated few teachers to improve quality and did not allow some students to sit for examinations due to poor class attendance and for this, false allegations were being brought against me one after another."
Earlier in April, some students accused Masud Mahmud of harassing girls sexually, discussing sexuality ‘unnecessarily’ in classes of literature.
They also lodged a complaint with Deputy Minister for Education, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel on April 25.
