A Cumilla court on Monday placed Jagannath University’s suspended student Raihan Siddique Amman and teacher Deen Islam on a two and one- day remand respectively in a case filed over the death of JnU student Fairuz Abontika.
Cumilla Judicial Magistrate Court-2 Judge Abu Bakar Siddique passed the order after the accused were produced before the court with prayers for a five and two-day remand respectively, said Kotwali Model police station Officer-in-Charge Md Firoz Hossain.
The court also ordered the investigation officer of the case filed to submit a report within seven days, he said.
Abontika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of the JnU Law Department, hanged herself at her Cumilla residence after accusing her classmate Amman and teacher Deen Islam, who was relieved from the post of assistant proctor of the university, in a Facebook post around 10 pm on Friday.
In the Facebook post before committing suicide, Abantika said that her classmate Amman Siddique and assistant proctor Deen Islam would be responsible for her suicide.
‘If I ever die by suicide, my classmate Amman Siddiqui and assistant proctor Deen Islam, who supported him, will be solely responsible for my death. I complained to the Proctor’s office that Amman was threatening me offline and also online but I did not get any benefit. Deen Islam scares me in many ways for the sake of Amman. He said that expelling me is very easy for him. I know I won’t get any justice here,” she wrote.
Hours after death of Abontika by
suicide, massive protest broke out and continued till Saturday morning, demanding justice for the student.
In the face of student movement, the university authorities were compelled to relieve the assistant proctor and suspend the student to assuage the movement.
Besides, the university administration formed a four-member probe committee with Masum Billah, dean of the Faculty of Law, as the convener and Law Officer Ranjan Kumar Das as the member secretary.
On Saturday, the protesting students announced to besiege the Vice Chancellor’s office on Monday to press home their six-point demand.
Members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested the teacher and student from Dhaka on Saturday night.
The DMP handed over the duo to Kotwali police station to take next action in this connection on Sunday.
DMP Additional Commissioner Dr Kha Mahid Uddin at a press conference on Sunday said they found partial authenticity of their involvement with the death of Abontika during the preliminary investigation.
JnU students staged demo and demanded justice for Abantika
JnU Correspondent
Students of Jagannath University on Monday staged a sit-in program in front of the administration building, demanding justice for the suicide of Fairuz Sadaf Abantika, who committed suicide last Friday night at her Cumilla residence.
The students hold the program under the banner of ‘Jagannath University Against Oppression’.
Ivan Tahseeb, a student in that sit-in program, said, “Deen Islam and Amman Siddiqui were arrested because of our movement. Through movement we were able to create that pressure as a result the administration was forced to take this step.”
He also said that they will continue their movement regardless of any unpleasant incident and will stand against the negligence of the administration.
“We will strengthen our movement. Until we get fair justice, we will continue our movement and program.”
However, the court granted two-day remand to her classmate Amman Siddiqui and one-day remand to JnU teacher Deen Islam in association with Abantika’s suicide.
They were placed before the Senior Judicial Magistrate Md. Abu Bakar Siddiq’s court at Cumilla on Monday morning. There police applied for the remand of teacher Deen Islam for two days and classmate Amman for five days. The court remanded the teacher for one day and the classmate for two days through hearing.
The teachers and students at the human chain demanded proper investigation into the reason behind Abontika’s suicide, and speedy trial of those responsible.
Abontika’s classmate Setu Pal said, “We never thought she would do this. Suicide is not a solution. I want a fair investigation. Those who are involved must be punished.”
Tanim, another student of the Law Department, said, “I want justice for Abontika. Whoever is responsible for abetting the suicide should be brought to justice.”
Ahmed Ehsanul Kabir, a teacher of the Law Department, said, “I used to see her in class three days a week. She was an active and brilliant student. We have lost a bright young person. I have given my statement to the inquiry committee. Hope we will see justice.”
Chairman of the Law Department, Prof Ali Akkas Sarkar, said, “In my 34 years of teaching, I have seen many incidents but Abontika’s death is very painful. She had completed her honours. She could have gone on to become a judge. We demand fair investigation into the reason behind her suicide and immediate action. Speedy trial should be done if necessary. Let there be an exemplary trial.”
Other teachers and students of various departments were present at the event.