Some teachers of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College joined the students who launched protests seeking the release of Aritry’s class teacher, Hasna Hena, on Friday.
Hasna Hena is one of three accused of instigating the suicide of student Aritry Adhikary.
On Friday, students of Viqarunnisa held a demonstration seeking the release of class teacher Hasna Hena. They were chanting slogans such as “amar ma nirdosh,” roughly translated as “our mother is innocent.”
They were protesting in front of the school premises holding banners in favour of Hasna Hena’s release. The protesting students said Hasna was a victim of circumstances, and she played no role in the suicide of student Aritry Adhikary.
The students said: “We want the release of Hasna Apa quickly as she is our mother; she has been guiding us throughout the year. We want her release. We do not want to dishonour her asking for justice.”
Some six of seven teachers also stood along with the students for 10 to 15 minutes in the protest.
When asked, why they have joined the students and whether they are supporting the student demands, they said that Hasna Hena is their colleague. She is just a class teacher and is not responsible for any problem solution. So, how did she become guilty, they questioned.
Some guardians, together with guardian Shahina Akter, said that Hasna Hena should not be draw into the incident: “She is a class teacher. She just called Aritry’s guardians over the phone. She is not liable for such a big punishment for this little job. She has just performed the duty of class teacher and she has not done anything wrong. We want her release.”
Some other guardians including Parveen Akhter and Mizanur Rahman said that the reputation of the school is being ruined by this movement: “The issue is running in different directions and has brought the students to the streets. It's spoiling the school's image. Whether she is guilty or not should be re-investigated.”
Bail petition of Hasna Hena
On Thursday, a Dhaka court turned down Hasna Hena’s bail petition and sent her to jail.
Detective Branch Inspector Kamrul Hasan Talukder had requested that the teacher be kept in jail, while Hasna Hena’s lawyer, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, told the court his client did not play a role in the student’s suicide.
Ninth-grader Aritry committed suicide on Monday hours after the school’s teachers reportedly humiliated the girl and her parents.
Case filed by victim’s father
The victim’s father, Dilip Adhikary, accused Hasna, acting principal Nazneen Ferdous, and morning shift in-charge Zinnat Akhtar, of instigating the suicide, in a case filed with Paltan police station on Tuesday.
The Education Ministry has also asked the police and Rapid Action Battalion to take legal action against the teachers.
Hasna was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police from Dhaka’s Uttara area on Wednesday night.
Viqarunnisa School authorities sacked the three teachers following government orders that came after two days of protests over Aritry’s death.
Two investigation committees, one by the government and another by the school authorities, were also formed on Tuesday.
