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The High Court has asked the government to probe the allegations of inaction brought against Feni's Additional District Magistrate (ADM) PK Enamul Karim over sexual harassment and murder of Sonagazi madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
The additional district magistrate, also the president of the governing body of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, reportedly failed to take action against the madrasa principal, SM Siraj-ud-Daula, following sexual abuse charges by Nusrat.
The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order on Monday and asked the secretaries to the Public Administration and Education Ministries to submit the probe report within 30 days, report BSS and bdnews24.com.
Advocate Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer, stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Abdullah al Mahmud Bashar represented the state.
Besides, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the reluctance of PK Enamul Karim about the Nusrat murder case should not be declared illegal.
It also issued another rule asking the government to explain as to why necessary action should not be taken against Enamul Karim.
Secretaries to the Home, Public Administration and Education Ministries and the IGP have been made respondents to the rule.
A newspaper report on Enamul Karim's role was placed before the court during the hearing.
According to the report, Nusrat along with her mother on April 4 went to ADM Enamul Karim and sought justice against principal Siraj Ud Doula of the madrasa. But the ADM asked Nusrat to hush up the matter.
"Why've you come to me? You've already filed a case. If you had not filed file the case against him then I would have looked into it. The principal is a bad guy and it's known to all. Why've you (Nusrat) gone to him and once you went to him then why didn't you take the matter easily?" said Enamul.
On April 17, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking its directive to form a judicial inquiry commission to investigate the murder of NusratJahan Rafi.
The writ filed by Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond also sought court's directive to take necessary steps to send the case to the Speedy Trial Tribunal immediately and provide compensation to Nusrat's family.
On April 6, Nusrat was set afire at an examination centre allegedly by people loyal to the principal of her madrasa after he was arrested and subsequently suspended as she had accused him of sexually harassing her in Sonagazi upazila of Feni district.
She lost her battle for life on April 10 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the capital.