Zobayer struck a match, set Nusrat alight

Saifur Rahman alias Zobayer, a key accused in Nusrat murder, yesterday confessed before a magistrate that he struck a match, set the Feni madrasa student on fire after another suspect Jabed Hossain poured kerosene on her, said police.

On April 6, Nusrat was called to the rooftop of the madrasa’s administrative building and asked to withdraw a sexual harassment case against her principal. As the 18-year-old refused, she was pinned down to the roof and her hands and legs were tied with her scarf. 

Accused Umme Sultana Poppy then held Nusrat’s legs, Shahadat Hossain Shamim muffled her screams with his hands on her mouth while Kamrunnahar Moni pressed her chest against the ground. Later, Jabed pour kerosene on Nusrat and Zobayer lit a matchstick and set her afire.

Md Iqbal, special superintendent of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), gave the description of the incident at a media briefing yesterday, quoting Zobayer’s confessional statement recorded at a district court earlier in the day, reports a correspondent in Feni.

Zobayer also confessed that he was wearing a burqa at that time to hide his identity. The garment has been seized from Dangi canal in the district’s Sonagazi upazila, Iqbal said, adding that they seized another burqa, allegedly worn by one of the killers, from Poppy’s possession.

Shahadat and Jabed were also wearing two burqas that day.

They along with several others planned to kill Nusrat on the directive of Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa Principal Siraj ud Doula, police said.

Recording the statement of Zobayer, who was on a five-day remand, the court ordered to send him to jail.

Earlier, seven other accused -- Nuruddin, Shahadat, Abdur Rahim Sharif, Abdul Kader, Poppy, Moni and Jabed -- gave confessional statements before magistrates admitting their involvements in the killing that sparked outrage across the country.

Alim examinee Nusrat lost her battle for life on April 10, five days after she was attacked.

So far, 12 suspects, including all the eight FIR named accused, have been arrested, said PBI Inspector Shah Alam, investigation officer of the case.

Investigators have said they found the involvement of Sonagazi Awami League President Ruhul Amin in the crime.

Seeking anonymity, a PBI official told The Daily Star that they found that Shahadat made two phone calls to Ruhul right after Nusrat was set on fire.

DEMO CONTINUES

Different organisations in Gaibandha, Pirojpur and Sherpur have taken to the streets demanding capital punishment to those involved in the gruesome murder.

They also expressed concern over growing number of incidents of rape and repression on women and children across the country.

On Sunday night, more than 100 people, including women, gathered at the Gaibandha Shaheed Minar premise and lit up candles, calling for “social protection” for women. The district unit of Karmojibi Nari organised the programme, reports our Pirojpur correspondent.

Pirojpur district unit Puja Udjapan Parishad yesterday formed a human chain in the district town demanding capital punishment to the killers of Nusrat.

Sherpur, the district unit Puja Udjapan Parishad formed a human chain over similar demands.