Death penalty for murder of a student set on fire

A Bangladesh court sentenced 16 people to death for the murder of a student set on fire after she reported her teacher of sexual harassment.

On 26 March 2019, Nusrat Jahan Rafi, from Feni, a small town 160 km (100 miles) outside the capital Dhaka, Bangladesh, reported her college principal, Siraj Ud Doula, to the police for repeatedly touching her inappropriately.

On 6 April 2019, Ms Rafi was due to sit an exam at the college. On arriving at the college, Ms Rafi was lured to the rooftop where she was surrounded by four or five people wearing burqas who attempted to put pressure on her to withdraw her complaint.

When Ms Rafi refused to do so, those pressuring her tied Ms Rafi’s hands and feet with a scarf, doused her in paraffin, and set her on fire.

According to the police, they had hoped to make it look like a suicide, but Ms Rafi managed to escape and get help.

However, Ms Rafi suffered burns to 80% of her body and died of her injuries on 10 April 2019.

Ms Rafi was 19 years old.

The murder shocked the country and led to a series of protests demanding justice for Ms Rafi.

Those convicted of murder included the principal Ms Rafi had accused of harassment and two female classmates.

The investigation into Ms Rafi'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 principal, who police say ordered the killing from prison after he was arrested under suspicion of harassment, were found guilty of murder by the court on 24 October 2019.

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 Ms Rafi had committed suicide. The officers were not among those tried for Ms Rafi’s murder.

Sexual harassment in Bangladesh's education institutions including colleges like the one Ms Rafi attended is widespread, while the cost of speaking out is high.

Sexual harassment is also thought to be relatively commonplace throughout Bangladesh.

A recent report by charity Action Aid earlier this year found 80% of women working in Bangladesh's garment industry have either seen or experienced sexual violence at work. 

Meanwhile, women's rights group Mahila Parishad said that, in the first six months of 2019, a total of 26 women were killed after being sexually assaulted, 592 were allegedly raped and 113 women said they were gang raped.

These are just the reported figures and there are fears the true number is far higher.

Speaking out like Ms Rafi did 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.

Ms Rafi’s case was particularly unusual because she reported her complaint to the police. The police filmed her statement on a mobile phone, which was later leaked to the media.

The case sparked mass protests in Bangladesh and shone a spotlight on the vulnerability of victims of sexual assault and harassment in the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina publicly pledged that "none of the culprits will be spared from legal action".

However, activists state that the murder of Ms Rafi exposed a culture of impunity around sex crimes.

It remains to be seen whether more victims of sexual abuse will feel emboldened to come forward following the conviction and sentenced passed against those responsible for the murder of Ms Rafi.