Verdict in case over VNSC student Aritri suicide deferred again

A Dhaka court has once again deferred the announcement of its judgement in a case filed against two former teachers of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College (VNSC) for allegedly instigating one of their students Aritri Adhikary to commit suicide.

Judge Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka 12th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court was scheduled to deliver judgement in the case on Sunday (March 3) but postponed it as the verdict was not ready. As a result, the judge fixed a new date for pronouncing the verdict. 

The two accused are- former acting principal of the school Nazneen Ferdous and morning shift in-charge of the school’s Bailey Road branch Zinat Akhtar. They have been suspended by the institution after filing the case.

The court on November 27 set January 21 to deliver its verdict after hearing the arguments from both sides. It later fixed February 8 as the new date for the pronouncement of the verdict after failing to do so on the first date. The court today fixed March 3 as another new date for pronouncing the verdict as the verdict was not ready. 

Dhaka 3rd Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on July 10, 2019, framed charges against the two teachers, initiating the trial officially.

Earlier on April 30, 2019, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhury accepted the charge sheet filed in the case.

The court also allowed the investigation officer’s plea to drop the name of Aritri’s class teacher Hasna Hena from the case as allegations brought against her were not found true in the probe.

Police on March 28, 2019, filed the charge sheet against the then acting principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College Nazneen Ferdous and morning shift in-charge of the school’s Bailey Road branch Zinat Akhtar.

Investigation officer (IO) inspector Qazi Qamrul Islam of detective branch (DB) of police submitted the charge sheet.

Aritri was found hanging from a ceiling fan of her residence in the capital’s Shantinagar area on December 3, 2018, hours after she and her parents were allegedly insulted by the teachers. She was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared her dead.

Aritri’s father Dilip Adhikary on December 4, 2018, filed the case with Paltan Police Station against the three teachers.