Lecturer sentenced to 21 years in prison for shooting in exam hall, student injured

The court has sentenced Dr. Raihan Sharif, a lecturer in the news for shooting a student in the leg during an exam at Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College in Sirajganj, to 21 years in prison under two sections of the Arms Act.

On Monday afternoon, District and Sessions Judge Iqbal Hossain of Sirajganj Special Tribunal-1 announced the verdict in the presence of the accused.

According to the case details, on March 4, 2024, the accused lecturer entered the academic building of Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College with a weapon to intimidate the students during the exam. At one stage, he took out a pistol from his bag and shot student Arafat Amin Tamal, which hit him in the right leg and injured him.

After the incident, the agitated students locked the accused in a room and informed the police. Police later arrested him from the scene and recovered weapons, bullets, magazines and sharp weapons, according to the case file.

Two separate cases were filed in the incident and after a long hearing and testimony, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to 21 years in prison. The court said that his detention period will be coordinated with the verdict.

The incident created a huge stir in the academic community and later students also staged a protest demanding strict punishment.