A. F. M. Rezaul Karim Siddique
| A. F. M. Rezaul Karim Siddique | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
January 7, 1955. Dargabari, Bagmara Upazila, Rajshahi |
| Died |
April 23, 2016 (aged 61) Bottola, Shalbagan, Rajshahi |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Occupation | Teaching |
| Years active | 1981 |
A. F. M. Rezaul Karim Siddique (or Siddiquee) (1955 – 23 April 2016) was professor of English at Rajshahi University, Bangladesh. He died in an attack suspected to have been carried out by Islamist militants that has been linked by commentators to a wave of attacks on secularists in Bangladesh.
Early life and family
Siddique was born in Bagmara Upazila, Rajshahi, in 1955. He received his advanced education at Rajshahi University from where he received degrees in 1976 and 1977.[1]
Siddique was married to Hosne Ara Sheera and had a son Riyasat Imtiaz Sourav and daughter Rezwana Hasin Shatobi, all of whom survived him.[1]
Career
Siddique lectured at Faridpur Government Rajendra College from 1981 to 1983 after which he joined Rajshahi University department of English. He was awarded his PhD there in 2000. Siddique was chairman of the English department from 2001-04 and became a professor in 2006. Outside the university, he founded the cultural organisations Arony Sangskritik Sangsad and Kamal Gandhar,[1] and set up a music school at Bagmara.[2] He was the founding editor of the literary magazine Kamal Gandhar.[1]
Death
Siddique was killed on 23 April 2016 in the Shalbagan[1] area of Rajshahi when he was attacked by unidentified assailants armed with machetes while he was on his way to work.[3] His attackers are suspected to be Islamist militants.[4] He was 61 years old.[5] His son, Riyasat Imtiaz Sourav, said "My father had no personal enemy".[1] ISIL claimed that it carried out the attack,[6] however, this was denied by the Bangladeshi authorities who say that ISIL does not exist in Bangladesh.[7]
Reaction
University of Rajshahi students and teachers organized continuous protests to demand justice for Siddique's murder. On 2 May 2016 all teachers in public universities in the country held a three-hour work stoppage in support of the demands.[8][9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Another RU teacher killed brutally. The Daily Star, 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Bangladeshi university professor hacked to death in Rajshahi. BBC News, 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Who Is Rezaul Karim Siddique? Bangladeshi Rajshahi University’s Professor Hacked To Death. Vishakha Sonawane, International Business Times, 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Bangladesh professor killed by suspected Islamist militants. Ruma Paul, Reuters, 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Julfikar Ali Manik and Ellen Barry (23 April 2016). "Bangladesh Police Suspect Islamist Militants in Professor’s Killing". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ↑ Islamic State claims it killed Bangladeshi academic. Agence France-Presse in Dhaka, The Guardian, 23 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ↑ Rezaul Karim Siddique: Murdered Bangladeshi professor 'not an atheist', daughter says. BBC News, 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ↑ "Univ Teachers' Assoc joins protest", TheIndependent, 3 May 2016, retrieved 5 May 2015
- ↑ "RU professor killing: Univ teachers skip classes", New Age, 3 May 2016