Viqarunnisa girls vow to carry protests
-- Classes and exams suspended
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. -- Students pressing for 6-point demand
-- Demo continues for today for day 2
- -Case handed over to detectives
-- 3 teachers suspended
Girls of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College have vowed to carry on protests over the suicide of a student, what has been accused of being instigated by the teachers.
Today’s classes and examinations drowned in protests from hundreds of students who stood at Bailey Road for hours crying out over demands of resignation of the principal.
After the day’s close, Golam Ashraf Talukder, president of the school’s governing body, told The Daily Star this evening that regular schedule will resume from next week.
Mustari Sultana, member of the school management body, told The Daily Star that the tests of today and tomorrow will be held on December 7 and 11 respectively.
“Our students are shocked and saddened over the sudden death of their peer. They are unable to concentrate and prepare for examinations now," she told reporters.
ADAMANT STUDENTS DEMAND JUSTICE
Since yesterday, the students have been demonstrating in front of the shool’s Bailey Road branch, moving with six-point demand including resignation of the principal.
Their other demands include resignation of the governing body, bringing the principal to face justice for instigating the suicide and a public apology for her behaviour.
Many of the demonstrating students have told The Daily Star they will continue their demonstration until their six-point demand is met.
This morning, they began demonstrations with colourful placards and posters chanting “It is not suicide, it is murder” in front of the Gate-1 of the campus.
3 TEACHERS SUSPENDED
The governing body of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College today suspended the three accused teachers over the suicide of class nine student Aritry Adhikary.
The move came after the education ministry asked the governing body to suspend the three teachers including acting principal Nazneen Ferdous.
The two other teachers are shift-in-charge of morning shift Zinat Akhtar and class teacher Hasna Hena, Golam Ashraf Talukder confirmed to The Daily Star.
Earlier in the day, the ministry sent letters to Rab and police urging to take legal steps against three teachers of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College over suicide of a class nine student.
WHAT WERE THE FINDINGS OF THE MINISTRY?
While briefing the media about the investigation of the ministry's probe committee, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the three teachers behaved mercilessly with the parents of Aritry.
“So, it is clear to the committee that she chose the path of killing herself after not being able to tolerate the disrespect of her parents,” the minister said.
So, those three teachers cannot avoid the liability, he added. “Departmental action will be taken against all the three teachers. Also, many other irregularities of the institutions has been uncovered.”
CASE HANDED OVER TO DB
Yesterday, a case was filed by Aritry’s father with Paltan Police Station accusing Acting Principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Nazneen, shift-in-charge of morning shift Zinat and Aritry's class teacher Hasna Hena of provoking the suicide.
The case has been handed over to Detective Branch of police (DB) today.
WHO HAVE BEEN MADE ACCUSED?
Around 8:00pm yesterday, Aritry's father Dilip filed a case with Paltan Police Station accusing Nazneen, Zinat and Aritry's class teacher Hasna Hena of provoking the suicide.
FAMILY SHATTERED
Holding the certificates of his daughter close to his chest, Dilip cried the entire time while talking to The Daily Star yesterday.
"My daughter knew seven different languages and got an award from British Council as best book reader,” he said, adding Aritry had secured GPA-5 in her Primary Education Completion Examination and Junior School Certificate examinations in 2014 and 2017.
"I pleaded with them to give my daughter a second chance. Aritry even tried to hold the teachers' leg,” he said.
WHAT DID THE HIGH COURT ORDER?
Yesterday, the HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader ordered to form a probe committee following a report published in a Bangla daily on the incident.
Issuing a suo moto order, the HC asked the committee to formulate a comprehensive national policy to prevent the repetition of such incidents and to submit another report before it in a month.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yeachir Ahsan Chowdhury today asked police to report on the principal and two teachers of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College over the suicide on January 9.
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