DU associate professor arrested over student’s death

Police arrested a Dhaka University teacher after a student was found dead with a note at her house in Dhaka’s Uttar Badda area early today.

Munira Mahzabin Mimo, a master’s student in Theatre and Performance Studies, allegedly died by suicide, hanging herself from a ceiling fan and leaving a note that mentioned the name of the teacher and another student.

“Sudip Chakraborty, an associate professor of the department, was arrested after the woman’s father, Golam Mostafa, filed a case of abetment of suicide with Badda Police Station,” said Kazi Md Nasirul Amin, officer-in-charge of the police station.

Earlier, police picked up the teacher and a classmate of the deceased for questioning.

“The student has been released as the deceased’s family has no complaint against her,” he said.

Gulshan Division Deputy Commissioner M Tanveer Ahmed said the body was recovered from the residence and sent to the morgue at Dhaka Medical College for an autopsy.

The family suspects that the teacher may have been in a relationship with her, he added.

Police officials said the woman used to sleep with the door open. After the Fajr prayers, family members noticed the door was closed and began knocking. As they received no response, they broke the door open and found the body hanging.

Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma, Mimo’s department chair, told The Daily Star that they were informed of the death this morning.

“We received the news around 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning. After that, teachers from the department went to her residence,” she said.

She added that there were indications of a connection between Mimo and a teacher that she had left behind.

Teachers and students said that Munira left a note mentioning the teacher’s name and asked that Tk 50,000 be given to him. She also wished the teacher and the student -- who was detained for questioning -- to stay well.