Double blow

In a shocking display of cruelty and humiliation, authorities of a Habiganj school have refused to allow a teenage rape victim to sit for her final exams.

The school management committee of Shahjalal High School in Bahubal upazila even went as far as to accuse the girl of having “bad character”.

The denial and the accusation came as a heavy blow to the poor girl who was battling to overcome the physical and mental trauma.
Also read: Habiganj ‘rape victim’ allowed to sit for exam

The 13-year-old from a poor Hindu family in the upazila's Bhadeshwar union was raped allegedly by two men on July 20.

After the incident, the school authorities asked her not to come to school. Then they refused to take fees for her final exams that started on November 29.

“What is my fault?” she asked while talking to this correspondent. “My friends and neighbours started treating me as a 'bad girl'. Some people made insulting comments whenever they saw me out in the village. My family is worried about me. I don't know what to do now.”

The girl now keeps to herself and avoids meeting her friends and neighbours.

Asked, headmaster Ayub Ali stood by the school authorities' decision and said they would not accept her in the class as “she is a girl of bad character and there will be a negative impact on other students”.

The school authorities decided not to take her back to the school, he added.

Contacted, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque said, “It is a gross violation of human rights. She has the right to education, attend her classes and sit for exams.”

“I think the education ministry should investigate the incident and take necessary actions against those responsible.”

Bhadeshwar UP Chairman Kamruzzaman Bashir told The Daily Star, “I requested the school authorities, including the headmaster, several times to allow the girl. But they didn't pay heed.”

Quoting the victim, he said one Fatema Akter from a neighbouring village lured the girl with the promise of a job in Habiganj town in July.

On July 20, Fatema took her on a human haulier and the two alleged rapist -- Zakir Hossain, 35, and Shomsher Uddin, 32, -- joined in. The vehicle plied different roads the whole day.

The two men took the girl to an unknown location and took turns to rape her. They dropped her in her village in an unconscious state the next day, he said.

The victim's father later filed a case with Bahubal Police Station. Police arrested Zakir and Fatema. Shomsher is on the run.

“My family is extremely poor. I just wanted to help my family by earning some money while continuing my studies,” said the girl.

Hasim Mia, president of the school management committee, said, “We've decided to issue a transfer certificate to the victim.”

“Some people, who are out to tarnish my reputation, are insisting on allowing her to sit for the final exam. But it is not possible now as the exams have already started,” he said.

A friend of the victim said she is a very good girl. “When I came to know about it [rape], I asked her but she was not in the state to say anything,” she added.

“It is a matter of sorrow that our teachers did not allow her to sit for the exam.”

Bahubal Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Moniruzzaman said he did not receive any complaints over the school authorities' decision.