On this day, six years ago, April 10, 2019, Nusrat Jahan Rafi, a 19-year-old Alim examinee from Sonagazi, Feni, died after being set on fire for seeking justice.
Nusrat had filed a sexual harassment complaint against the principal of her madrasa, SM Siraj Ud Doula. On April 6, 2019, she was lured to the rooftop of the madrasa, where five individuals tied her up, poured kerosene on her, and set her on fire. Before her death, Nusrat gave a brave statement naming the perpetrators and holding the principal responsible.
The case drew national attention. In October 2019, the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Feni sentenced 16 people to death, including the principal, madrasa students, local political leaders, and activists of a so-called “Siraj Ud Doula Release Committee.” The tribunal found all 16 guilty beyond a doubt.
But six years later, justice remains stalled. The death reference hearing at the High Court only began in December 2024. So far, hearings have been completed for seven of the sixteen convicted. The final verdict is still pending and may be delivered after Eid-ul-Azha, as per the prosecution.
Meanwhile, Nusrat’s family continues to live under round-the-clock police protection due to constant threats and online harassment from the convicts’ associates. Over the years, they’ve lost precious belongings in natural disasters, including personal mementos of Nusrat. Yet, they have not stopped demanding justice.
Nusrat’s courage in the face of such brutality remains a symbol of resistance against gender-based violence and institutional impunity. But six years on, her family is still waiting for justice, for peace, and for safety.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 