Bring the stalkers to book, demand locals

Suicide by Schoolgirl Cynthia

Hasna Rahman Cynthia (marked with circle) was leading a procession against stalking in the Baroikhali area under Sreenagar upazila of Munshiganj district a few days before committing suicide.Photo: STARA Correspondent, Munshiganj

Students and local people yesterday brought out a procession in protest against stalking that led to the suicide of schoolgirl Hasna Rahman Cynthia on Wednesday.

Students of Baroikhali High School, of which Cynthia '14' was a class ten student, boycotted classes and joined the procession.

People caught stalker Jahangir and handed him over to police but his two accomplices are still at large. The protesters demanded immediate arrest of his accomplices and exemplary punishment to them.

Cynthia's uncle Sheikh Rustam Ali filed a case with Sreenagar police Station yesterday. Jahangir's father Jamal Hossain and his brother Zakir Hossain have also been accused in the case.

After namaz-e-janaza at her School ground yesterday, the body of Cynthia was buried at the local graveyard.

Yusuf Ali, headmaster of Baroikhali High School under Sreenagar upazils, said Jahangir and his accomplices had been stalking Synthia for more than one year and several meetings were held to resolve the issue, but to no effect.

On the day of incident, a meeting was held where a number of police personnel, including Sub-Inspector Aminul of Sreenagar Police Station, were present, he said, adding that that instead of arresting Jahangir police showed clemency to him.

The headmaster said immediately after the meeting, Jahangir in an agitated mood went to Cynthia's house and threatened her. Tormented by feelings of insecurity, Cynthia committed suicide at their house, he added.

Local union parishad chairman Md Iqbal Hossain said when Cynthia was returning home from her school on Wednesday, Jahangir again threatened her.

He said when the matter came to light a meeting was held in the room of the headmaster of Baroikhali High School at around 3:00pm on Wednesday. As local influential people urged police to arrest Jahangir, his father Jamal Hossain sought clemency to correct his son to which police responded, the UP chairman added.