Tension has spread widely in the area over the mysterious death of Mehedi Hasan, 14, an eighth-grade student at the residential hostel of Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy in Ramganj, Lakshmipur. The family alleges he was tortured to death after being falsely accused of stealing an iPhone. Police, however, say the true cause of death can only be confirmed after the autopsy report is received.
Mehedi was the son of Ziauddin Zia of Raghabpur village in Ishapur union of the upazila and a boarding eighth-grade student at Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy.
According to academy sources, an iPhone belonging to a college-section student went missing on June 14. Suspicion was cast on Mehedi over the incident. It is alleged that on Tuesday evening, several senior students took him to a hostel room and beat him in the name of questioning him.
The academy’s resident teacher, Md Ismail Hossain, said several students took Mehedi to a room amid suspicion over the missing phone. He was beaten there. “On hearing the news, we rescued him in a serious condition and took him to hospital, where a doctor declared him dead,” he said.
He claimed that, after the incident, Mehedi’s body had been hung from a window grille with a muffler wrapped around his neck in order to conceal the cause of death.
Ismail Hossain also claimed that the protests and vandalism caused damage worth several crore taka to the institution.
When news of Mehedi’s death spread, intense anger erupted among relatives and locals that night. Hundreds of people gathered in front of the institution and protested. At one point, an agitated crowd vandalized the main gate, the reception room and other structures. Several vehicles were also set on fire, it was learned.
To bring the situation under control, additional police were deployed from the district headquarters alongside the upazila administration and police. After several hours of effort, the situation came under control late at night.
The dead boy’s uncle, Juyel Rana, said: “My nephew committed no crime. He was tortured on a false accusation. We want a proper investigation of this incident and the maximum punishment for those involved.”
In view of the situation that has arisen, the upazila administration has declared Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy closed for seven days. Attempts to contact the institution’s principal, Khandaker Abdul Mannan, over the incident were unsuccessful.
Ramganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kazi Atiqur Rahman said: “This is an extremely tragic incident. Police are investigating. Everyone must be patient until the truth is uncovered. If anyone is proven guilty in the investigation, legal action will be taken against those concerned.”
Additional Superintendent of Police (administration and finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi said: “The student’s hanging body was recovered from the residential hall. The true cause of death can be confirmed after the autopsy report is received. Additional police have been deployed to keep the situation under control.”
Ramganj police station officer-in-charge Md Firoz Uddin Chowdhury said: “School authorities have said the student was beaten over an allegation of mobile phone theft. But whether death was caused by the beating alone cannot be confirmed at this stage. Further steps will be taken after the autopsy report is received. Efforts are under way to identify and arrest those accused.”
The academy authorities said nine students identified as accused in the incident have fled the hostel. On Wednesday afternoon, after the autopsy, relatives and locals protested in front of Ramganj police station with Mehedi’s body. They demanded the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report