Nusrat killed as posed threat to 'Siraj gang'

Nusrat Jahan Rafi was posing a threat to all and she must be dealt with ‘all the strength’, Feni Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa principal Siraj Ud Daula told his students who went to visit him in jail on 3 April.

The students also agreed to the decision, Siraj Ud Daula said in his 19-page confessional statement recorded under the act 164 before the court of the senior judicial magistrate Md Zakir Hossain in Feni 7 April.

Siraj was arrested from the madrasa on 27 March in a sexual assault case. He was showed arrested in another case on 9 April over setting Nusrat on fire.

Several students, including Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Nur Uddin, Abdul Quader and Jabed Hossain, went to meet him at jail on 3 April and they said he would not be granted bail soon, Siraj told the court.

He tried to know what steps were taken regarding Nusrat's family. He talked to Shahadat and Nur Uddin alone and asked them to create pressure on her family. If they did not succumb to this, Nusrat should be killed in a manner that would seem as a suicide. Awami League (AL) leaders Ruhul Amin and Maksud Alam were to help, according to the statement.

"Shahadat and Nur Uddin agreed with my plan and then left. I informed the students as she posed a threat to our combined interest," Siraj told the court.

Siraj built liaison with the local AL leaders and the administration after he joined in the Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa in 2001. He formed a strong relationship with Ruhul Amin and Maksud Alam. He could execute any decision regarding the madrasa due to this liaison, he told the court.

Madrasa unit BCL president Shahadat Hossain Shamim, Nur Uddin, Hafez Abdul Quader, Zabed, Zubayer were among the students Siraj built an intimate relationship with. They were given concessions and other benefits and were used to intimidate the teachers and students of the madrasa.

"In the morning on that day, I called in Nusrat through my office assistant Nurul Amin. Nusrat came with three more girl students. I had information that she had a relationship with another boy. So I created pressure on her. We exchanged a few words. When she fell down, I grabbed her from behind. She kept sitting on the floor. Then she left," Siraj told the court.

"Nusrat's mother tried to kill me in the afternoon. I threatened her. Nur Uddin was present there. Later, Shahadat came in. I called Ruhul Amin and he sent sub-inspector Iqbal from the police station. Then I was taken to the police station," he added.

*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Nusrat Nowrin.