Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Thursday said that it would interfere if any negligence is found in the investigation into the murder of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
The HC Bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the comment when Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman prayed to the court to issue a Suo Moto directive for conducting a judicial inquiry into the murder of Nusrat.
The lawyer placed some newspaper reports on Nusrat’s death to the HC Bench saying that the incident had sparked protest across the country and, as such, a judicial inquiry should be conducted to identify and punish the culprits.
The court said, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is holding an inquiry into the incident and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself is also concerned regarding the incident.
“Please keep faith on the investigation… We’ll interfere if there is any negligence,” said the court.
All concerned should be careful so that the murder of Nusrat is not forgotten like the murders of journalist couple Sagar and Runi, Tonu and Mitu, it added.
Alim (equivalent to HSC) examinee Nusrat Jahan Rafi, who was set afire in Sonagazi upazila of Feni on Saturday, and she succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Burn and Plastic Surgery unit around 9:30 pm on Wednesday.
Rafi, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madras, was set afire a few minutes before her examination allegedly by students loyal to Principal Sirajuddoula after he was arrested and subsequently suspended as Rafi had accused him of sexually harassing her.
She was immediately taken to the DMCH for better treatment where she underwent a surgery under life support on Tuesday.
Ten people, including the Madrasa Principal, have so far been arrested in this connection. On April 8, in a declaration, Rafi told her doctors that four students wearing burqas and hand socks set her on fire. She identified one of them as Shampa.
A case was filed accusing eight identified people, including Madrasa Principal Sirajuddoula, Lecturer of English Absar Uddin, Feni Municipality Councillor Maksudul Alam Maksud, and four unidentified ones.
On Wednesday, the case was transferred to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI).
Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman said, “It is actually a heartbreaking incident. Me and my family members could not sleep last night. In the morning, I drew the attention of the High Court Bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil with some newspapers’ cutting. After hearing, the HC Bench passed the comment.”
“Leaders of the big political parties can be involved in this incident. There may be a matter of religious sentiment. People from all over the country are waiting to see a thorough investigation into the incident,” he said.
Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said, “There can be no more brutal incidents. She has been set on fire that is why she died. When the case will come to the High Court, the State will try to settle with utmost importance.”
