Students of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College have decided to continue their protests over the suicide of 15-year-old Aritree Adhikari for the second day on Wednesday (Dec 4).
Students will raise their demands for transforming educational institutions into more humane other than introducing counselling and training for teachers following the ninth grader’s death which has sparked fury among students and parents.
Ninth grade students of the school have also announced to boycott Wednesday’s scheduled exam and join the protests in front of their school at 10am demanding justice for their classmate’s death.
Demonstrations erupted outside the school’s main campus on Dhaka’s Bailey Road since Tuesday (Dec 4) morning.
Guardians allege that Viqarunnisa has lost their reputation along with their old tradition due to irregularities, corruption and absence of accountability.
‘Students will make mistakes which is precisely why they are sent to school. But, if the school becomes a place of horror, what will they learn?’ asked one guardian.
One student told Bangla Tribune, “Teachers mentally torture us. The reality has come to light because of Aritree’s suicide.”
“The vice principal insults us every time we go to her room. She even rebukes the students by their parents’ name. Principal madam don’t take any steps if we take the matter to her,” alleged the student.
On Monday (Dec 3), the body of Aritree Adhikari was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her room locked from inside.
The family of the 15-year-old girl claimed she committed suicide after the principal insulted her and the parents of because she had cheated in an exam
The principal, however, refuted the allegation of insulting the parents and said that they were called only to inform about that Aritree was barred from an exam on Sunday after she was found to be cheating by using a mobile phone.
The High Court has ordered the formation of a panel headed by a public servant to probe the incident of Aritree’s suicide.
Two separate probe panel has been formed by the education ministry and Viqarunnisa authorities with three-day deadline to submit reports.
