A few outsiders were seen at the Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa student quarters the night before the arson attack on Nusrat Jahan Rafi, who lost her battle for life on Wednesday (Apr 10) at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The 18-year-old was set on fire for refusing to withdraw sexual assault charges against principal Siraj-ud-Daula on Saturday (Apr 6), when she went to sit for her Alim exams, equivalent to Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
Burqa-clad assailants, allegedly followers of the principal, poured kerosene on her and set her aflame.
Several people saw some outsiders wandering about the student’s living quarter the night before the attack but are terrified to speak out in fear of their lives.
Locals including teachers and students wishing to remain anonymous told Bangla Tribune that these people might’ve been behind the attack.
People at the madrasa said that Principal Siraj-ud-Daula opened the living quarters a few months ago without any approval from the madrasa’s directors.
According to them, outsiders were often allowed there and most of those the principal entertained were ruling party activists.
A local businessman said that in relation to the arson attack several people have gone into hiding to avoid arrest.
Locals claim that a few people have been seen going in and out of the district administration office and the prison to see Siraj. These people allegedly provided journalists and police with untrue information in an effort to mislead the investigation.
A madrasa teacher on the condition of anonymity told Bangla Tribune that principal Siraj had a circle of sorts inside and outside the madrasa which includes teachers, employees as well as former students.
He is allegedly close to madrasa committee president and Additional Deputy Commissioner PK Enamul Karim and vice-president Ruhul Amin, also the chief of the Awami League’s upazila unit.
Former member of the madrasa committee and AL’s district unit Organising Secretary Sheikh Mamun told Bangla Tribune that students had previously gone to Enamul Karim with complaints of sexual harassment against the principal but to no avail.
Saying that the madrasa principal retained his post despite being charged in a violence case, he added, “He [Karim] delayed taking steps the day Siraj was arrested on Mar 27. In fact he was suspended a day after the girl was set on fire.”
Denying Mamun’s allegartios, Enamul Karim said that the matter of sexual harassment was being treated with utmost seriousness.
“The Madrasa Committee Forum discussed taking action according to the private education institution’s policy,” he told Bangla Tribune.
He added that they couldn’t immediately take action as they had to wait for the inquiry report. “But we ousted him immediately after the girl was set on fire.”
According to locals, AL’s Ruhul Amin is the main patron of the madrasa and in addition to having close ties to the now suspended principal, Siraj’s family made some monetary transactions with him the after his arrest.
Ruhul Amin, however, swatted away the allegations saying that these were nothing but rumours.
“We’ll be able to tell what went down after questioning the prime suspect and when we find out the perpetrators of the attack,” said Feni’s Superintendent of Police SM Jahangir Alam Sarker.
On Wednesday (Apr 10), a Feni court remanded Siraj for seven days. Afsar Hossain, a teacher of English Department and Arifur Rahman, the victim's classmate, were placed on five-day remands as well.
The same court the previous day granted police five days to interrogate three others suspects — Nur Hossain, Kefayetullah and Shahidul Islam.