A tribunal has framed charges against suspended madrasa principal SM Sirajuddaula, in a case filed for sexually harassing Nusrat, who was later burned to death on his order.
Judge Mamunur Rashid, of Feni Women and Children’s Repression Prevention Tribunal, passed the order on Monday.
The court set Oct 27 for recording witness testimonies, plaintiff’s lawyer M Shahjahan Shaju said.
He said: "Police Bureau of Investigation submitted a 10-page long charge sheet before Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Zakir Hossain on Jul 3.
"The next day, the case was shifted to Judge Mamunur Rashid of Women and Children’s Repression Prevention Tribunal."
HOW DID NUSRAT DIE?
On Apr 6, Nusrat was set afire on the roof of the madrasa at Sonagazi by those loyal to Sirajuddaula, after she refused to withdraw the sexually harassment case against Sirajuddaula filed by her family on May.
Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa and an Alim examinee, died on Apr 10 from severe burn injuries four days after supporters of the now suspended madrasa principal, Sirajuddaula, set her on fire on the madrasa premises.
She had lodged a sexual harassment complaint with Sonagazi police station against Sirajuddaula on Mar 27. Sirajuddaula was subsequently arrested and sent to jail. Nusrat was set on fire when Sirajuddaula's associates failed to intimidate her into withdrawing the complaint.
Later, Md Shah Alam, investigation officer of the case and an inspector of PBI, pressed charges against sixteen people.
The accused are: Md Sirajuddaula, Nur Uddin, Shahdat Hossain Shamim, Maksud Alam alias Moksud Al councillor, Saifur Rahman Mohammad Jobayer, Jabed Hossain alias Sakhwat Hossain Jaber, Hafez Abdul Kader, Afsar Uddin, Kamrun Nahar Moni, Umme Sultana Popy alias Tuhin alias Shampa alias Champa, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Eftekhar Uddin Rana, Imran Hossain alias Mamun, Mohammad Shamim, Ruhul Amin, and Mohiuddin Shakil.
On Apr 28, Sirajuddaula gave his confessional statement before Feni’s Senior Judicial Magistrate Zakir Hossain in the murder case.
In the statement, he also confessed about the sexual harassment, Inspector Shah Alam of PBI confirmed.