Inspiration that will last forever

“…I will continue to protest against injustice until my death.”

On her deathbed, Nusrat Jahan Rafi had uttered those words while describing the fateful event when four people wearing veil and niqab were pressing her to say that the allegation about sexual harassment by her madrasa principal was false.

But the 19-year-old madrasa student resolutely refused to comply.

The four then tied Nusrat up with scarfs, threw kerosene and set her on fire on the roof of the madrasa. She died of burns four days later.

Her courage in speaking out against injustice was lauded by a Feni court that yesterday handed the death penalty to all the 16 accused in the Nusrat murder case -- an incident that touched off outrage all over the country.

“The bold sacrifice of victim Nusrat Jahan Rafi for preserving the dignity of womanhood has already given her immortality. Her immortality is an inspiration that will last forever,” said Judge Mamunur Rashid of Women and Children’s Repression Prevention Tribunal in his verdict.

The tribunal said Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Degree Madrasa is one of the largest educational institutions in Feni where more than 2,000 students are studying.

“The incident, which defamed Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa’s glorious role in expanding education in the locality, has shaken the conscience of the world,” the verdict reads.

“At the same time, the audacity of the accused will certainly continue to disgrace humanity for ages. Therefore, the accused deserve stringent exemplary punishment,” it adds.

Nusrat, an Alim examinee, was sexually harassed by madrasa principal Siraj Ud Doula, now sacked, on March 27.

While many girls and young women in the country opt to keep their experiences of sexual harassment or abuse secret, Nusrat spoke up and sought justice.

For the victims, the path of seeking justice is not smooth either.

After the incident, Nusrat’s mother filed a case against Siraj, who was later arrested and sent to jail.

Being called by Moazzem Hossain, then officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Model Police Station, Nusrat shared her traumatic experience with the OC. The official recorded her statement on his mobile phone without her consent and circulated the video clip on social media. The OC, now suspended, is facing trial in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

Since Siraj’s arrest, his associates were threatening Nusrat’s family to withdraw the case. But the family did not do so.

On April 6, Nusrat, along with her brother, went to the madrasa to sit for an Alim examination. But her brother was not allowed in.

A fellow female student took her to the roof of the madrasa, saying one of her friends was being beaten up.

As Nusrat reached the roof, the four people surrounded her and pressed her to withdraw the case against the principal.

As she refused to comply, they poured kerosene on her and set her on fire. About 80 percent of her body was burnt.

After fighting for her life for four days, Nusrat died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on April 10.