Rumour against victim’s family being spread

Sathi, daughter of day labourer Delwar Hossain Talukder of Bagadi village and a student of Bagadi Goni High School, went to the school on August 27, and contacted Fatema Begum, office secretary seeking permission to sit in the mid-term examination. Sathi was then asked to pay the examination fee. As she was unable to pay the fee, Fathema forced her do sit-ups holding her ears in front of the other students. Returning home, she informed the incident to her parents. Next day she did not go to school, as her parents could not pay the fee. She committed suicide on Monday morning over the incident. Later,  Delwar Hossain, father of the girl, filed a case with the Chandpur Model police station accusing four people. The section is now saying that Sathi might have been killed by her family members, as she had stepmother. Family members of the girl said that some local influential people were trying to save staff of the school. During a visit to Sathi's residence, this correspondent found that Sathi's mother was wailing and saying that she was not Sathi's stepmother and did not kill her. Taslim Begum, Sathi's sister, breaking down into tears told the Dhaka Tribune that their family is very needy. She said: “My father did not marry for the second time, we have no stepmother. Why are they talking like this?" “My sister committed suicide, as they humiliated her for only Tk30,” she said. Some students of the school told the Dhaka Tribune that their teachers asked them not to talk with any newsman over the incident. They also gave direction to the children to talk in favour of schoolteachers. On Tuesday, police arrested Alauddin, headmaster of the school, in connection with the suicide incident. When this correspondent visited the school, teachers told him that no incident of humiliation took place in the school and she might have been killed over a family feud. Deputy Commissioner Abdur Sabur Mondol, Superintendent of Police Shashur Nahar and high police officials, however, went to Delwar's house and assured him that they would take proper steps. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid phoned the DC over the issue and ordered him to take immediate steps. A three-member probe committee was formed and was asked to submit the report within three days. Local UP chairman Billal Gazi said the girl committed suicide as she was humiliated in front of her classmates. Oliullah, officer-in-charge of Chandpur Model police station, said the police had arrested the headmaster form Faridganj in a case filed by the victim's father.