Protesters Demand Justice for Student Found Dead Following Alleged Harassment at Lakshmipur Academy
The death of an eighth-grade student at the Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy in Ramganj has sparked public outrage, with family members and local residents staging a protest outside the local police station on Wednesday to demand justice. The demonstration took place following the conclusion of an autopsy on 14-year-old Mehedi Hasan, whose body was discovered hanging in the school’s dormitory on Tuesday.
Protesters, including the victim’s parents and local community members, gathered in front of the Ramganj police station to claim that Hasan was murdered. The incident has led to significant unrest in the area, with crowds reportedly vandalizing the school campus on Tuesday night before local authorities intervened to restore order. Police officials have since met with the demonstrators and pledged a neutral and thorough investigation, successfully persuading the group to conclude their protest.
Initial investigations by the police suggest that Hasan may have died by suicide following alleged psychological abuse related to the theft of a mobile phone. Ramganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Firoz Uddin Chowdhury noted that while the primary investigation points to suicide, the authorities are awaiting the final autopsy report to determine the exact cause of death. He confirmed that police remain stationed at the school to prevent further escalation.
The school administration has since acknowledged the internal strife, confirming that Hasan had filed a formal written complaint on Monday detailing the physical and mental abuse he suffered at the hands of other boarding students. According to a statement issued by the academy’s principal, Abdul Mannan, the institution had begun an inquiry and collected written statements from the accused students shortly before Hasan’s body was found. The administration stated that evidence of abuse has surfaced during their preliminary review of the victim’s complaint.
In response to the tragedy and the subsequent vandalism, the Farid Ahmed Bhuiyan Academy has suspended all academic and institutional activities for the next seven working days. The school’s leadership stated that the closure is intended to facilitate the ongoing investigation and ensure the safety of the campus, adding that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable.
