Sylhet, Mar 4 – The attacker confessed to the law enforcers that he attacked Professor Muhammed Zafar Iqbal as the teacher what he said is an enemy of Islam.
Lt Colonel Ali Haider Azad Ahmed, CEO of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-9), came up with the information while briefing reporters at Sylhet Ragib Rabeya Medical College and Hospital around 1 am.
The attacker was admitted to Combined Medical Hospital (CMH) of Sylhet.
He is not disclosing correct informing about his identity, said the official.
The attacker was identified as Faizur Rahman, son of Mawlana Atikur Rahman, a resident of Kaliar Kapon, of Derai Upazila
in Sunamganj district and a madrasa student.
He has been residing with his family members at Sheikh Para in Kumargaon area of the city. His father teaches at Tukerbazar Mahila Madrasa.
The noted writer received injuries in the knife attack on the campus on Saturday afternoon.
He is now undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) of the capital.
An earlier report said the attacker of renowned writer and teacher of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Professor Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal has been identified.
Fayzur Rahman, son of Atikul Islam, a resident of Sheikhpara area near Kumargaon Bus Stand adjacent to the university, hailing from Kaliar Kapon village in Derai Upazila of Sunamganj, made the attack on Prof Zafar Iqbal, said Shafikul Islam Swapan, officer-in-charge of Jalalabad Police Station.
The police official, however, is unwilling to disclose further details for the sake of investigation.
Dr Zafar Iqbal, who was seriously injured in the knife attack on the campus on Saturday afternoon, is now undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
SUST Assistant Proctor Abu Hena Pahil said a young man, aged around 24-25, swooped on Prof Zafar Iqbal around 5:40 pm while he was delivering his speech on the closing day of a two-day celebration programme, ‘Robofight,’ of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) department at Mukta Mancha.
The celebrated writer was first taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and kept at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where doctors said he was out of danger.
Later, Zafar Iqbal was airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka following the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. An air ambulance carrying him left Osmani International Airport around 10 pm.
A constable, Ibrahim, was also injured while trying to catch the attacker.
Soon after the incident, SUST students caught the attacker from the Shikkha Bhaban-1 and gave him a mass beating before handing him over to police.
Protesting the attack on the noted writer, general students of the university under the banner of Sammilito Sanskritik Jote will form a human chain in front of the central library around 12 pm.- UNB
