Nusrat Jahan Rafi, the madrasa student from Feni who was allegedly burnt after refusing to withdraw sexual abuse charges against the principal, died at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) after battling death for five days with 80% burn injuries on her body.
The 18-year-old madrasa student from Feni’s Sonagazi upazila passed away around 9:30pm on Wednesday (Apr 10) after her condition critically deteriorated.
Doctors cited four reasons why they could not save the teenage girl from death.
DMCH Plastic Surgery Department’s Assistant Professor Dr Tanvir Ahmed said, “Nusrat had major burn injuries on 80% of her body, and 60% of those injuries were deep. Her respiratory system also suffered burn injuries.
“Kerosene is toxic, and it severely damaged her lungs and brain. She died because of those fatal injuries.”
The doctor further said, “In cases where a person is set on fire with the intention of claiming live, the surviving victims’ condition usually becomes critical.
“We (doctors) do not think this is a case of suicide, considering her condition before death.
DMCH burn unit Coordinator Dr Samanta Lal Sen said, “Patients who received burn injuries on 80% of their bodies, suffer from multiple serious health complications. It is a rare occurrence for patients to survive the wounds.”
“Nusrat died from a cardiac arrest, and her death was sudden. The doctors from Singapore had also told us that the chances of Nusrat’s survival were very low.”
The victim, a resident of Sonagazi Municipality, went to the local Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa on Saturday (Apr 6) to sit for her Alim exams, equivalent to Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC).
Some students called her to the roof and threatened her to withdraw the case filed against the principal. They set her on fire after pouring kerosene on her when she refused, according to the victim's family.
Police and others rescued her after hearing her cry and took her to Sonagazi Upazila Health complex from where she was shifted to the Feni General Hospital before being transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
On Monday (Apr 8), she was put on life support at the DMCH burn unit as her condition deteriorated.

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