Viqarunnisa student’s suicide sparks protests
The suicide of a ninth grade student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College (VNSC) allegedly after being rebuked by her teachers sparked fury among students and guardians on Tuesday.
The guardians took position in front of the school’s Bailey Road campus in the morning and staged demonstrations demanding removal of the accused teachers and the principal, reports UNB.
VNSC governing body president Golam Ashraf Talukder said a show-cause notice was issued against morning shift in-charge Zinnat Ara and she was asked to refrain from discharging her duties until the probe is completed over the suicide incident.
Besides, the principal was asked to explain the matter, he said.
Amid the protests, the High Court made an observation that the suicide by the student of Viqarunnisa Noon School is heart-rending and termed the insult of her parents a “very bad example”.
Meanwhile, two separate probe committees were formed to investigate the incident.
The government formed a probe committee led by professor Mohammad Yusuf, director of Dhaka Regional Education office.
Two other members of the committee are deputy director Shakhawat Hossain of Dhaka Regional Education office and Dhaka district education officer Benzir Ahmed.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within three days.
The school authorities also formed a three-member probe committee, which was asked to submit its report within three days.
The committee members are Ataur Rahman, Khurshid Jahan and Ferdousi Jahan. They all are governing body members of the educational institution.
Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid visited VNSC Bailey Road campus in the morning.
He told the newsmen that the government is taking the incident of suicide seriously as it is very painful for all.
“I want to say it clearly that we, the education ministry, are taking the incident of suicide as a serious matter. We think this incident ... the suicide of the student is very painful to us. We can’t ignore it so easily,” the minister said.
“A three-member probe committee has been formed. It’ll find out who provoked it (suicide) and steps will be taken once the report is submitted,” he added.
“Considering the issue as not only psychological but also criminal one, we’ve discussed it with the police and asked them to cooperate with us,” Nahid said adding, “We’ve talked to the victim’s guardians over phone. They’re so shocked that they’re now staying home.”
Aritree Adhikari, daughter of Dilip Adhikari, and a student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, reportedly committed suicide at their Shantinagar residence in the capital city on Monday after allegedly being rebuked by teachers for using mobile phone during examination.