Resentment spreads through Bangladesh after 18-year-old was burnt until death for speaking out against sexual abuse

An 18-year-old girl was killed for speaking out against sexual harassment that was done by her principal which ended up sparking outrage in Bangladesh. Many protests have happened throughout Bangladesh demanding equity for the girl.

An 18-year-old student studying in a Madrasa in Bangladesh was burnt for reporting sexual harassment that happened to her by the principal of the school she was studying in.

The girl that was allegedly harassed went to the authorities on the 27th of March to report Maulana Siraj Ud Doula for sexually harassing her. The 18-year old reported that the principal used to call her to his office and harassed her by touching her in an inappropriate way.

The girl claimed that she was told to keep quiet by her professors when she spoke out about the harassment.

A law enforcement officer in Bangladesh videotaped her statement without her permission, where the girl could be seen weeping, and attempting to hide her face. Later on, the video of the girl crying was leaked to local media in Bangladesh.

The police officers could be heard saying, "it's not a big deal", asking the 18-year old to take her hands away from her face.

Once the police report was completed, the principal of the school was arrested. Although the principal was arrested the girl and her entire family started allegedly getting death threats from the people who supported the school principal.

On the 6th of April, the girl was drenched in kerosene and was placed on fire by four people that are currently not identified. The girl was fooled into walking to the rooftop of the school building where she was drenched in the kerosene.

As stated by law enforcement, the alleged attackers were dressed in an Islamic dress called the Burka to hide their face. The attacker then tried to force the girl into removing her complaint against the school's principal and placed her on fire when she refused to cooperate.

The girl was taken to a hospital but later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after medical officials found that she had 80 percent burns throughout her body. She ended up dying on April 10.

Her murder caused mass outrage throughout Bangladesh with many protests that demanded justice for the girl. Many people in Bangladesh have also started social media campaigns try and get justice for the sad incident that occurred.

Law Enforcement has made many arrests since then in relation to the murder.

While all of this is happening, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met the girl's family in the capital Dhaka and promised that everyone involved in the girl's death would be brought to justice and pay for what they have done. She also stated "None of the culprits will be spared from legal action", she promised the family.

The suspects accused responsible for placing the girl on fire turned out to be students of the madrasa, state authorities reported which also included one woman.

Upon cross-examination, they stated they were operating on Siraj Ud Doula's order.

Another investigation has also been started into law enforcement's handling of the girl's complaint to the police. The officer who videotaped the girl has been charged with negligence which led to her death as well as breaking the cyber privacy laws of Bangladesh.