Dhaka, Dec 9 (Just News) : Protesting students of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College have ended their hunger strike and returned to class upon assurance from teachers that their demand of ninth-grade’s class teacher Hasna Hena will be released soon.
Students gathered in front of Viqarunnisa’s Baily Road branch for the third day on Sunday (Dec 9) since 8am demanding release of Hasna Hena, who was arrested on Dec 5 on charges of provoking ninth-grader Aritree Adhikari to commit suicide.
Agitating students sat on a hunger strike pressing their demand until around 1:15pm when they were assured by teachers that Hena will be released within a couple of days.
“We hope teacher Hasna Hena will be released with two three days,” said teachers before taking the students to the college auditorium where teachers tried to enlighten the protesters on legal procedures.
However, students vowed to continue their protest until Hena is released before calling off their demonstration for the day.
Earlier on Sunday, Onabi, a ninth-grader told Bangla Tribune, “We have been calling for measures against those who are responsible behind Aritree’s suicide. But, no innocent student or teacher should be harassed in the process.”
“We believe that teacher Hasna Hena is not involved in any capacity,” she added.
“We want people responsible behind Aritree Adhikari’s death are brought to justice. But, an innocent teacher cannot be jailed and that why we are demonstrating for her freedom,” said student Lamia Akter.
Students said that Hena was a good teacher and her arrest was nothing more than a conspiracy against her.
The CCTV footage clearly showed that she (Hena) just escorted Aritree to the principal’s room. This does not make her guilty. We cannot condone injustice to get justice for another cause, they said.
The students added that Hena’s arrest was not part of their six-point demand and they want her unconditional release.
The body of Aritree Adhikari was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her room locked from inside on Monday (Dec 3).
The family of the 15-year-old girl claimed she committed suicide after the principal insulted her and the parents of because she had cheated in an exam.
The principal refuted the allegation of insulting the parents and said that they were called only to inform about that Aritree was barred from an exam on Sunday (Dec 2) after she was found to be cheating by using a cell phone.
On Wednesday (Dec 5), school authorities sacked Acting Principal Nazneen Ferdous, class teacher Hasna Hena, and morning shift in-charge Zinat Akhtar after Aritree's suicide sparked widespread protests.
Later that night, police arrested Hena from her Uttara home in the capital.
(JustNews/mj/1520hr.)
