Justice for Nusrat Jahan: burnt alive for reporting sexual assault

BANGLADESH: The nineteen-year-old was burnt alive for reporting sexual assault against her headmaster. The world seeks Justice for Nusrat Jahan Rafi.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi had reported sexual assault two weeks ago before she was drench with kerosene and set on fire.

Her courage to speak up against the sexual assault in a country with conservative mind set has led to her tragic death.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi was just nineteen and studying at a madrassa. She belonged to a small town of Feni 100 miles from South Dhaka.

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She had reported on 27 March she was called by her headmaster in his office. He tried to touch her several times in an inappropriate manner. Before things could any further she managed to escape from the devil.

After Reporting Assault

Unlike many girls who maintain silence due to fear of facing the shame and abuse from society, Nusrat Jahan Rafi went to the police station to report sexual assault against her headmaster.

She reported the assault on the same day. She went along with her family to the police station.

Did she get a good response from the Police? Apparently not. Instead, she was filed on the cell phone by the police officer in front of her family. The video which was later leaked on social media.

The video showed Nusrat Jahan Rafi trying to hide her face with her hands. She is seen as confused and distressed.

The police officer is also heard saying “It’s no big deal.” She is also heard asking her to move her hands from her face.

The headmaster was arrested after she went to report her sexual assault on 27th March. Things did not get better for her though, it only got worse for Nusrat Jahan Rafi.

A protest was arranged by two male student and the people gathered outside demanded the release of the headmaster. BBC has reported some of the local politicians were also allegedly present in the protest.

People were blaming Nusrat Jahan Rafi, and her family started fearing for her safety.

On 6th April after 11 days Nusrat went to her school for her final exams.

Mahmudul Hasan Noman, Nusrat’s brother said he was stopped from entering the school and she had to go by herself.

Nusrat Jahan Rafi gave a statement in an ambulance

Nusrat Jahan Rafi gave a statement in an ambulance which was recorded on his cell phone. She gave statement fearing in case she did not make it.

She said one of her fellow female student took her to the school roof top on the pretext that a friend of her was being beaten up.

When she reached the rooftop she was surrounded by four or five people wearing burqas. They pressured her to withdraw the case against the headmaster which she refused. That is when she was set on fire.

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Police Bureau of Investigation chief Banaj Kumar Majumder, said the killers tried to make it look like a suicide. Their plan failed because she was rescued and gave her statement before dying.

Banaj Kumar Majumder also said her face was not burnt because one of the killers was holding her head down when they poured kerosene on her and it did not get to her head.

Doctors at the local hospital found 80% her body covered in burns. Nusrat Jahan Rafi was than taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital as they were unable to treet her at the local hospital.

Nusrat is heard saying “The teacher touched me, I will fight this crime till my last breath,”

She also identified some of the attackers and they were students of the same madrassa.

Nusrat died on 10th April and thousands have attended her funeral at Feni.

Since than 15 arrest have been made. Among them are two male students who organised the protest.

Headmaster is still in custody.

Policeman who filmed her has been removed from his post.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met Nusrat’s family and has promised the family “None of the culprits will be spared from legal action,”

On Tweeter Justice For Nusrat

Ahmadullah SIddiki has tweeted:

At last my sister Nusrat Jahan Rafi is died. My almighty Allah grant her paradise. Amen. #JusticeForNusrat

O the world! Listen to me! There is a barbarous society is established in Bangladesh. My sister named Nusrat has been killed by burning after dishonoring. We can’t retain our tears. There is no application of law! Absolutely it’s a brutal society.

Ali Ahmad Mabrur an activist has tweeted

Nusrat Jahan Rafi who died after being set on fire was laid to eternal rest at her village home in Feni district of #Bangladesh . She was buried at their family graveyard following a namaz-e-janaza at Mohammad Saber Pilot High School ground around 5:50pm. #justicefornusrat

#Bangladesh ruling party Awami League expelled its Feni district unit leader and union parishad chairman Kazi Bulbul Sohag for assisting madrasa principal Sirajuddoula in a case filed for sexually assaulting Nusrat Jahan Rafi, who has died on late Wednesday. #JusticeForNusrat

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met Nusrat’s family

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated that killers of Sonagazi madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi will not be spared

Justice for Nusrat