A lecturer at a medical school in Bangladesh has been suspended, two days after he allegedly shot and wounded a student in a classroom.

Raihan Sharif was subsequently arrested but was only suspended on Wednesday following a protest by students from the medical college where the incident took place.

The injured student underwent an operation and is in the hospital. Dr Sharif has been taken into police custody. The BBC is unable to contact him for comment until a lawyer has been appointed.

Local media reports that Arafat Amin Tomal, a 23-year-old student at a medical college in Sirajganj, northwest Bangladesh, argued with Sharif while taking an exam on Monday. During the exam, Sharif allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the student, shooting him in the right knee, reports said.

The bullet reportedly hit Amin's mobile phone in his trouser pocket, sparing him life-threatening injuries, according to Bangladesh newspaper Daily Star, citing police.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, there were 45 students in the class when the alleged incident took place. They rushed to help, locked the teacher in a room and called the police.

Sharif was then arrested and taken into custody. In a statement, police said Sharif "shot the student with an illegal pistol". Police said they seized his gun as well as a second pistol, 81 rounds of ammunition, four magazines, two knives and 10 daggers, which they reportedly found in his bag.

According to the police, Sharif was allegedly known for carrying weapons to school, which he displayed during lectures.

The reports have shocked Bangladesh and sparked widespread condemnation that the teacher was suspended from his post just two days after the alleged incident took place, despite his arrest by police.

His suspension was triggered by a protest by students at the medical faculty, who demanded his immediate dismissal and severe punishment. The police said that a special commission had been formed to investigate the circumstances of the incident. Such incidents are rare in Bangladesh, where gun ownership and use are strictly regulated by the government. /BBC