Protests erupt as JnU student commits suicide

Hours after death of Jagannath University (JnU) student Fairuz Abantika by suicide, massive protest broke out and continued until Saturday morning, demanding justice for the student, reports UNB.

Fairuz Abantika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of Jagannath University (JnU) Law Department, hanged herself at her Cumilla residence after accusing her classmate and the assistant proctor of the university in a Facebook post around 10 pm on Friday.

Amid protests of the students, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Sadeka Halim came to the campus after 1 am. Initially the protesting students did not allow the VC to enter the campus. After a while, they let the VC in.

The Vice Chancellor then assured them that a fair investigation will be conducted as per the laws of the university.

Besides, the university administration has formed a four-member probe committee with Masum Billah, dean of the Faculty of Law, as the convener and Law Officer Ranjan Kumar Das as the member secretary. The other members of the committee are the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Abul Hossain and Music Department Chairman Jhumur Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the university administration relieved assistant proctor Deen Islam from his duty and suspended classmate Amman Siddique.

More news from Cumilla adds: Tahmina Shabnam, mother of Jagannath University student Fairuz Abantika, has demanded justice for her daughter's death.

"My husband died a year ago. Last night my daughter Fairuz died. I can't bear this grief. I have another son. If no action is taken against those responsible for my daughter's death, I will end my life along with my son," said the wailing mother at her home at Bagichagaon of Cumilla city on Saturday.

Earlier, her Namaz-e-Jananza was held on Cumilla Government College premises at 03:00 pm. A good number of people including her classmates, teachers, relatives and locals attended the Janaza.