Dhaka, July 15 – The High Court on Monday directed the government to conduct an enquiry against Feni Additional District Magistrate PKM Enamul Karim, also the president of the governing body of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa, in connection with the sexual harassment and killing of Nusrat Jahan Rafi.In response to a writ petition, the HC bench comprising Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and KM Kamrul Kader asked the secretaries of education ministry and public administration ministry to take action against Enamul if he is found guilty in the probe,
It asked the secretaries of the two ministries to submit a report before it after complying with the order within a month.
The HC bench also issued a rule asking the government to explain why necessary action should not be taken against Enamul for his inaction over Nusrat’s murder.
It also asked Enamul Karim to explain in four weeks why his inaction to take action against the madrasa principal Siraj ud Doula of sexual harassment on Nusrat after she and her mother informed Enamul about it, should not be declared illegal.
The editor of Bangla daily Samakal, the secretaries of education and home, the IGP, DC and SP of Feni district, and the OC of Sonagazi police station have been made respondents to reply to the rule.
The writ petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Eunus Ali Akond seeking a necessary order saying that the Sonagazi Madrasa governing body chairman reportedly did not take any action against Siraj ud Doula even after Nusrat and her mother informed him about sexual harassment by the principal on Nusrat.
He filed the petition with the HC on June 30 after annexing a report published in Samakal on June 21.
According to the report, on April 4, Nusrat and her mother went to ADM Enamul’s office to register a complaint against madrasa Principal Sirajuddaula, but Enamul did not take any action.
The report said Enamul rather suggested them to forget about the incident.
He reportedly said: “What are you doing here? You have already filed a case. If you had come to me before filing the case, I could have done something.”
He also reportedly asked Nusrat why she had gone to the principal even after knowing how he was.
On April 6, a group of people poured kerosene on Nusrat and set her afire at the Feni Madrasa allegedly for refusing to withdraw the case against the madrasa principal.
The 18-year-old girl lost her battle for life on April 10 — an incident that touched off outrage all over the country.
Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Basher represented the state during the hearing on the petition. – Staff Reporter
