Try to understand my limitations, helplessness: MC College principal

Prof Md Saleh Ahmed, principal of Murari Chand College (MC College) in Sylhet, talked to The Daily Star this morning over the incident of gang-rape of a woman at a hostel of the college last night that has drawn flak from people across the country.

TDS: When an incident like rape happens at a college hostel, the responsibility lies with the principal of the institution. We would like to have your comments on what happened at your college last night.

Prof Saleh: Being the principal of the college, I am the custodian of everything here. Hence, I cannot avoid the responsibility. However, until something happens, no one can tell that something like it may happen. You can already see the situation of Bangladesh, its society.

The six alleged perpetrators included three former students of the college, one current student, and two outsiders.

The college gate was closed when the incident happened. The hostel was also closed. However, since some teachers and employees of the college stay there with families, the hostel is not always locked down when closed. Possibly it was not locked last night, so the perpetrators got inside the hostel. The four-storey building of the hostel is under construction. In front of the hostel there is light, but it's dark in the back, where there is a hillock. The woman was violated there. 

TDS: Is it the same hostel which was burnt down by Chhatra League activists?

Prof Saleh: Yes.

TDS: When were you informed of the rape?

Prof Saleh: Around 8:00pm a staffer informed me over phone. The incident happened soon after dark. Then the OC of Shah Paran Police Station called me for permission to enter the hostel. I told them to get there as soon as possible. Two of the hostel superintendents are on leave, two others were on campus. I sent both of them immediately. I was not feeling well last night. After police reached the hostel, I sent an assistant professor of the college and the secretary of the teachers' association there. They informed me that the law enforcers were investigating and it was not necessary for me to go there immediately. I went to the hostel around 12:30am and stayed there till 3:00 in the morning. 

TDS: When activists of Chhatra League are found to be involved in such incidents, it is sometimes seen that the teachers and a part of the administration try to save them, provide them shelter and support, which in turn make them more unruly.

Prof Saleh: That may be true in case of universities since the teachers there are involved in politics. I can say without any hesitation that our teachers do not have any grouping, and hence we would never support anyone involved in such activities. Our college is at Tilagarh. There is some influence of local politics but those are outside the campus, not within.

TDS: What measures are you thinking of taking against the accused?

Prof Saleh: We are forming a committee to investigate the matter. The committee will find out the details of the former students, when they graduated, etc. They will definitely come up with some recommendations in this regard when they complete the investigation. As per their recommendation, we would appeal to the National University authorities to cancel their certificates.

TDS: In case of probe bodies, it's often seen that their reports are not published, and their recommendations for punishments against the accused are often not complied with. The example includes MC College itself -- the arson attack on the hostel.

Prof Saleh: The arson attack on the hostel happened in 2012. I was then head of the department. We submitted our probe report in time and it was published too. Yes, for proper observation regarding the subtle aspects of the occurrence some time might have been taken. However, when it comes to punishing the perpetrators it is not in our hand. Case has been lodged in this regard and it is pending trial.

TDS: What steps were taken against the students involved in the arson incident?

Prof Saleh: Those who were involved in the arson attack were former students of the college, who had graduated four or five years before.

TDS: Some of those accused for burning down the 128-year-old hostel were also present students of the college at that time, alongside the former ones. You have recommended steps against them but no measures were taken. Why?

Prof Saleh: The question you have asked, as a common man, I also have the same question. Exemplary punishment to the accused was necessary to prevent recurrence of such incident. If the accused were punished accordingly, the perpetrators of last night's incident would not have dared to commit the crime they did.

However, all we got from the arson attack was having the burnt hostel rebuilt at a cost of Tk six crore.  

TDS: You are saying the probe body will make recommendations for steps against the accused. But the National University authorities may not take any steps due to political reasons. Incidents will keep occurring and you will continue to get blamed?

Prof Saleh: What can we do about it anyway? I am a government official. These aspects mostly fall under jurisdiction of the law enforcement agencies, while some are judicial aspects, and the rest are responsibilities of the government and its many agencies. A lot of things are not in our hands. Do you get my point?

I understand your query. You should also try to understand my situation, my limitations, and my helplessness. A college principal was thrown in water. From media reports, we come to know about such incidents. I suppose you do understand our plight.

TDS: What is your expectation in this context? Will the perpetrators be punished?

Prof Saleh: I expect highest punishment. I am doing as far as I am supposed to do. Many journalists came to me this morning. While talking to them, a senior secretary -- a former student of the college -- called me over phone. I requested him to do something from his position.

Many alumni of the college are now in top positions. I called many of them, and they have assured of doing as far as possible for them. Law enforcers are trying to arrest the culprits. I expect the law to take its own course and the culprits to be handed the highest punishment.

TDS: Did you have a word with the education minister or anyone from the ministry?

Prof Saleh: No, I did not have that scope yet. I have been giving interviews since going to office today. Now there are meetings with academic council, staff council, then I will contact the ministry. If I contact the ministry now, they will ask me what I have done so far. So first, I will take the steps I have to, and then contact the ministry.