DU student’s death at in-laws’ house: Teachers, students demand justice

Teachers and students of Dhaka University's Dance department formed a human chain in front of Aparajeyo Bangla today, demanding justice for Elma Chowdhury Meghla, who died at her in-laws' house yesterday after allegedly being tortured.

Elma's teachers alleged that she was brutally murdered by her husband and in-laws.

"Why did she (Elma) have so many bruises if her death was natural? We demand a fair investigation and a fair trial," Rezwana Choudhury, chairperson of the Dance department, told our DU correspondent at the programme.

AKM Golam Rabbani, proctor of DU, said, "It is murder… Elma's body had injuries all over, and she had also been mentally tortured before death. We demand a thorough and prompt investigation. Elma's family has full support of the DU administration."

Abu Md Delwar Hossain, dean of the Faculty of Arts; Provost Professor Shamim Banu of Sufia Kamal Hall; and teachers from various departments, as well as Elma's classmates, were present.

Prof Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers Association, has demanded a judicial investigation and formation of a special tribunal.

Elma, a final-year dance student, was found dead in her in-laws' house at Dhaka's Banani area last evening.

Elma's uncle Iqbal Hossain said, "My niece was tortured to death by her husband and his family members… There are numerous torture marks on her body."

Elma's classmate Jannatul Ferdous said that they could not communicate with her since Elma got married.

"We found her phone switched off or her in-laws used to receive the calls whenever we called her," she said, adding Elma last came to the university campus to attend an exam in September.

Tamanna Rahman, a teacher of the victim, said a man accompanied the student when she came to the department to attend the exam.

He, like a bodyguard, was watching her the whole time, she said.

A murder case was filed against Elma's husband and parents-in-law last night.

Victim's father Saiful Islam filed the case with Banani Police Station, said Nur-E-Azam Mia, officer-in-charge of the police station.

Her husband Iftekhar Abedin was arrested in the case.