2 more witnesses give testimony to court

Two more witnesses in the case for murder of madrasa girl Nusrat Jahan Rafi gave their testimonies to Feni Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal yesterday.

Nusrat, a student of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa, set afire on the rooftop of an Alim examination centre on April 6, succumbed to her injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10.

She was set afire allegedly for not withdrawing the case of sexual harassment against her madrasa principal.

“After Siraj-ud-Dowla, principal of the madrasa, was sent to jail following the sexual harassment case, his followers forced the madrasa students to bring out a procession demanding his release,” said Sheikh Abdul Halim alias Sheikh Mamun, former managing committee member of the madrasa, told the tribunal of Judge Mamunur Rashid.

“During that time I saw Nuruddin and Shahadat Hossain Shamim and their men with sticks,” said Halim, also a councillor of Sonagazi municipality.

In his testimony, Abu Yousuf, an office assistant of the madrasa, said, “Around 9:00am on April 6, I went out to buy breakfast for the examination hall superintendent. That time I heard that there was a fire at the madrasa. When I came back, Nusrat was rushed to hospital from the madrasa.”    

“After that the office clerk of the madrasa asked me to lock the rooftop. Later I accompanied police to the rooftop and saw polythene with kerosene, burnt parts of clothes usually worn by girls, one pair of navy blue shoes, 10 burnt sticks of match and a mattress,” he said.            

Police Investigation Bureau submitted charge sheet against 16 people including the madrasa principal in the case.