In response to the tragic suicide of Jagannath University (JnU) law department student Fairuz Obontika, twelve ordinary students demanded to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident, aimed at expediting the trial of those responsible.
On Saturday afternoon, a procession of students convened at the university campus, commencing at 3:30 PM. The demonstrators, comprising concerned students, marched around the university premises before proceeding to Victoria Park and Kabi Nazrul Government College, concluding their protest at the university`s main gate.
Following the procession, the students convened a short rally, during which they voiced their grievances and presented a set of six demands. These demands, aimed at addressing the circumstances surrounding Fairuz`s tragic death, included:
1.Ensuring a fair and impartial investigation into the incident.
2. Immediate arrest of the accused individuals, Amman Siddiqui and Assistant Proctor Deen Islam.
3. Convening an urgent syndicate to expel the accused permanently.
4. Ensuring maximum security for the victim`s family.
5. Filing a murder case by the university administration as the plaintiff.
6. Operationalizing the University Sexual Harassment Cell.
The demonstrators issued a 12-hour ultimatum for the implementation of these demands, warning of further action if their stipulations were not met. Should their demands go unaddressed, the students announced plans to stage a protest at the Vice-Chancellor`s office at 11am on the following Monday.
The tragic incident that spurred these protests occurred on Friday night when Fairuz Obontika, a student of the law department at Jagannath University, took her own life. Allegations surfaced on social media, with Fairuz blaming Assistant Proctor Deen Islam and a classmate named Amman Siddiqui in her final Facebook post.
The student hanged herself using her veil on the second floor of a 10-storey building named `PC Park Samarnika` in Bagichagaon, Comilla city, around 10 PM. Despite efforts by relatives to rescue her, Fairuz was declared dead upon arrival at Comilla General Hospital.
The outcry from students reflects a growing demand for accountability and justice in the wake of Fairuz`s untimely demise, highlighting the urgent need for institutional reforms and measures to address issues of harassment and mental health within educational institutions.
