Munshi Mahiuddin Ahmed was a freedom fighter but in a country for which he fought, legal rights have eluded him.

Mahiuddin took part in the LLB (Honours) exam in 1985 from the Shahid Mashiur Rahman College in Jashore under Rajshahi University. The result was published in 1988 but he did not pass since he got 24 in one subject which is 1 mark less than the passing grade.

However, Mahiuddin paid to have his papers re-assessed and the university authority did so but instead of publishing the result, formed a probe committee.

It was found that there was foul play in assessing the papers and two teachers who evaluated the papers were barred from assessing exam papers for 7 and 12 years respectively.

Since the result was not published, Mahiuddin went to court and lodged a case which became entangled in a series of legal complications.

After much wrangling on Mar 29, 2001, the result was published which showed that Mahiuddin had passed but notice was sent from Mahiuddin based on a high court ruling to the Rajshahi University authority for paying Tk 1 million as compensation to the harassed person.

But so far that compensation has not been paid.

Mahidduin had a stroke in 2010 and then became paralysed in 2016. The task was then taken by his eldest son, Asif Shahriar, who laments: “Due to the negligence of the university, my entire family has been affected. We have written to the university several times about the compensation but they astutely sideline the issue.”

Registrar of Rajshahi University, Professor MA Bari, said: “We do not know where the university is at fault here and cannot say unless I have full knowledge of the matter.”

Regarding the non-implementation of the court verdict, Barrister Shafiq Ahmed, said: “This is tantamount to contempt of court; the family of Mahiuddin can accuse the university of contempt of court and also ask for compensation for such delay in the implementation of the court directive.”