Bangladesh: 16 people sentenced to death for burning teen alive

A Bangladesh court sentenced 16 people to death on October 23, who are charged with the murder of Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a 19-year-old female student who was burnt alive in April, which provoked outrage across the country. As per reports, Rafi was burnt as she refused to withdraw a sexual harassment complaint against the headteacher of the seminary she attended. The incident sparked protests across Bangladesh and Bangladeshi Prime Minister was led to promising that the law will provide justice. She was reportedly doused in kerosene and set on fire. 

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"The verdict proves that nobody will get away with murder in Bangladesh. We have the rule of law," prosecutor Hafez Ahmed told reporters.

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Details of the case

As per reports, the 19-year-old was called to the terrace of the aforementioned seminary, where some unidentified men and women asked her to withdraw the complaint against the headteacher. Later, the men doused her in kerosene and set her on fire, which burnt 80% of her body, subsequently leading to her death after 5 days of treatment. Rafi's death became the proof behind the rise in sexual harassment cases in Bangladesh. A charge sheet was then filed later on Wednesday, October 23, against the 16 people which included two women, reportedly classmates of Rafi. Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) lead investigator Mohammad Iqbal told media that the accused are charged under the women's and children's repression law, owing to which they received the death penalty. He further informed that it was the Principal of the Sonagazi Islamia Senior Fazil Madrasa Siraj Ud Doula where Rafi was a student, who ordered the murder from jail.

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Rafi testified about her culprit before dying

Leaked video footage shows Rafi reaching a police station to file the complaint, which was dismissed by the officer. The investigating officer said that at least five people including three of Rafi's classmates had tied her up with a scarf before setting her on fire. They assumed that they will get away with the crime by staging it as suicide. After a struggle of 5 days since April 5, the girl died in the hospital on April 10. On her death bed, the girl recorded a video alleging the principal for her death. Women's welfare associations raised the issue widely.

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