Over enthusiasm for punishing after serious crimes have been committed is a hypocrisy we have been tolerating too long. The constitutional right to life is not considered as a responsibility of law enforcing agencies and that is why gang leaders of heinous crimes like burning to death enjoy protection to go about making lives unsafe for men and women especially young girls for sex.
There is no doubt that sexual harassment is increasing to the consternation of the whole nation. It is beyond belief that the local police had no knowledge of the activities of the criminal gang under the leadership of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa Principal Siraj Ud Doula exploiting young girls.
The truth is the police do not feel accountable to the people and carry out their constitutional duty to protect people’s life. They also forget that the cost of their lifestyle is borne by the people. If police acted responsibly Madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi would have been alive, and would not have to face tragic death from burning to the shame of the whole nation.
The main culprit for the cruel killing of Nusrat must be the law enforcing agencies who knew about the criminal activities of Siraj Ud Doula and his criminal gang in the locality.
If the case filed by her was taken seriously this gang of criminals would be in jail and not free to commit the crime that shook the conscience of the responsible people.
Nusrat was laid to rest at her village in Sonagazi Upazila of Feni on Thursday evening. Nusrat, who lost her battle for life on Wednesday night, five days after she was set ablaze at a madrassa in Feni, was buried at a graveyard in North Charchandia village.
A group of four unidentified persons poured kerosene on the 18-year-old girl and set her afire on April 6 allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case against the madrasa Principal Siraj Ud Doula over sexual assault on her late last month.
The Officer-in-Charge of Sonagazi Model Police Station in Feni has been withdrawn for his alleged negligence in handling the case over setting the madrasa girl on fire. Meanwhile, a Feni court has placed the madrasa Principal Maulana Siraj Ud Doula, the main suspect in the case, on a seven-day remand over the incident.
This heinous crime against the student has drawn severe criticism from all parts of the country. Principal Siraj has had strong connection with Awami League and many suspect that is the reason the police remained inactive despite her complaint to the police station. Siraj was jailed several times yet he could continue as the Principal of the madrasa.
He was earlier arrested for forgery and misappropriating madrasa fund but got released on bail. How could such a person be appointed as Principal to such a post?
Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is holding an inquiry into the incident and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself is also concerned regarding the incident but the fact remains as to why Nusrat’s initial complaints were dismissed by the police.
We think evoking hyper active in filing cases after crimes have committed is no credit got the police. Police must be responsible for preventing crimes and not for just prosecuting people on suspicion.
