Justice For Sexual Harassment Victim in Bangladesh

Killed for reporting sexual harassment

A Bangladesh court has sentenced 16 people to death for the murder of a student set on fire after accusing her teacher of sexual harassment.  The teacher who was accused of harassment and two female classmates were among those convicted.

When the judge announced the verdict, some of the defendants burst into tears, while others shouted out across the courtroom that they had been denied justice.  But in Bangladesh, it is more usually women like Nusrat who are denied justice.  Sexual harassment in Bangladesh's educational institutions-- like the one Nusrat attended-- is widespread

19-year-old Nusrat Jahan Rafi died last April in Feni, a small town 100 miles outside the capital Dhaka.  Nusrat was lured to her school's rooftop 11 days after she reported the school's headmaster to police for repeatedly touching her inappropriately.  Nusrat was then surrounded by four or five people wearing burqas, pressuring her to withdraw her complaint.  When she refused, they set her on fire.

The group had hoped to make it look like a suicide. Instead, she managed to escape and get help.  But knowing she was badly hurt, she gave a statement which her brother filmed on his phone.  "The teacher touched me, I will fight this crime till my last breath," she said, naming some of her attackers.  Nusrat, who had sustained burns to 80% of her body, died four days later.

Nusrat's murder shocked the country and led to a series of protests demanding justice.  The trial was one of the quickest in a country where such cases usually take years to conclude.  Prosecutor Hafez Ahmed told reporters it proved "that nobody will get away with murder in Bangladesh".  Lawyers for the defendants say they will appeal.

The investigation into Nusrat's death revealed a conspiracy to silence her, which included her own classmates and a number of powerful men from within the community.  Three teachers, including the headmaster, Siraj Ud Doula (who police say ordered the killing from prison after he was arrested under suspicion of harassment) were found guilty by the court.  Another two of the defendants convicted, Ruhul Amin and Maksud Alam, are local leaders of the ruling Awami League party.

A number of local police were found to have collaborated with those convicted in spreading false information that Nusrat had committed suicide.  The officers were not among those tried for Nusrat's murder.

Nusrat's family, who supported her decision to report her sexual harassment to police, have since been given police protection, according to reports.  They welcomed the verdict, asking for the sentence to be carried out quickly. In Bangladesh, the death penalty is carried out by hanging.

Sexual harassment is thought to be relatively commonplace in Bangladesh.  Speaking out like Nusrat is still uncommon as reporting sexual harassment carries risks.  Victims often face judgement from their communities, harassment, in person and online, and in some cases violent attacks.

Nusrat's case sparked mass protests in Bangladesh and shone a spotlight on the vulnerability of victims of sexual assault and harassment in the country.  The police initially dismissed the sexual harassment allegations but eventually brought charges against the 16 accused after weeks of protests.  Activists say the killing exposed a culture of impunity around sex crimes. Whether more victims of sexual abuse will feel emboldened to come forward following Nusrat's case remains to be seen.