Nusrat Murder: Poppy was late for test

The day madrasa student Nusrat was attacked in Feni, Umme Sultan Poppy, a suspect in the case, arrived late for an examination at the institution and claimed that she had gone to the washroom, a witness said in his deposition before a court yesterday.

Poppy is one of the five charge sheeted accused in the case filed for killing Nusrat by setting her on fire on the madrasa roof on     April 6.

Witness Abul Khayer, a teacher of the madrasa, gave his deposition before the court of Justice Mamunur Rashid of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal.

“On that day, one student entered the exam hall after all the others. When she was asked why she was late, she replied that she was in the bathroom. Two days later, I learnt from other students that the girl’s name was Umme Sultan Poppy. Her nickname is Tuhin. She was arrested from her home after a few days,” Khayer said in his deposition.

There were supposed to be 26 examinees at the hall, but Khayer found 23. The three did not arrive when he distributed exam papers at 9:45am, he recalled.

Two of the students showed up after a minute or two. After that, the teacher heard screams outside. Later, he saw Nusrat being taken towards the madrasa gate, he said.

The court adjourned the proceedings till Sunday when it is expected two record depositions of two more witnesses -- Sonagazi municipality chairman Sheikh Mamun and local businessman Mohammed Yousuf, said court sources.

On Wednesday Shirin Akter, mother of slain Nusrat Jahan Rafi, fainted in the witness stand. She, however, turned up yesterday and completed her deposition as a witness.

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, was set attacked allegedly for refusing to withdraw a case filed against the madrasa principal for sexually harassing her. After fighting for her life for five days, Nusrat succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.