Mariam Akhter Pinky A 16-year-old schoolgirl has been burnt to death by a youth who had been stalking her since she refused his marriage proposal two years ago.
The victim, Mariam Akhter Pinky of Tarail upazila in Kishoreganj, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital hours after she was set afire on Monday morning.
Initially, she was thought to have attempted suicide. But later on her deathbed, she described to her mother how Tobarak Hossain, 24, poured kerosene on her, lit fire and ran off.
"Ammu [mother], you've got to make sure he [Tobarak] is punished," Pinky's mother Latifa Begum quoted her daughter as pleading before succumbing to severe burns all over her body.
Syed Mannan Ali, officer-in-charge of Tarail Police Station, said the girl had killed herself.
But as The Daily Star drew his attention to her last statement, the OC said he then needed to talk to the parents to know how she died.
Tobarak, who lives in the same village -- Kona Bhawal -- swooped on Pinky at around 7:30am when none of her parents or siblings was home.
Pinky, a class-ten student, was studying for examinations when she saw him on the doorstep with a one-litre plastic bottle full of kerosene.
Before she could move, he had emptied the kerosene bottle on her and threw a lit matchstick setting her ablaze, Latifa said quoting from the statement her daughter gave before death.
Flames swallowed up Pinky in no time.
At the time, her mother was on a walk in the neighbourhood. As she heard a shrill scream, she sprinted to her house to find a burning Pinky throwing herself into their pond.
Latifa and another daughter of her soon got Pinky out of water. With help from others, they took her to DMCH burn unit at around 2:00pm. After fighting for life for several hours, the girl died at 10:30 pm.
Locals said Tobarak, son of Jaru Mia, used to tease Pinky on her way to school and throw brickbats on their house at night.
Alfatun Bhuiyan, Pinky's rickshaw-puller father, said Tobarak on numerous occasions had told Pinky that he would throw acid on her if she did not marry him.
As harassment got intolerable, they sought an end to it through village arbitration, but to no avail.
Locals said most of the villagers are afraid of Tobarak as his brother work as a prison guard in Narsinghdi.
Neighbours said Pinky was a gifted dancer. Only a few days ago, she won Tk 10,000 in a dance contest in her school.
On March 17, Afroz Moni, a student of Kishoreganj Azimuddin High School, committed suicide failing to withstand relentless teasing.
Nashfia Akand Pinky, a class-nine student at the capital's West Agargaon, and Umme Kulsum Elora, 14, killed themselves in January and April under similar circumstances.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:29 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
Pinky forgive us. We failed to to look after you. I have two sisters. Both of them in university. But when they go to university we ( including my parents) fell insecure of their sefty. It is not possible for gov to control it or remove eve teaser for ever. Actually our social norms are responsible for this. We have to teach our child properly. We have to make them understand which is wrong and which is right.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:40 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
Human animal!
God is failing in Bangladesh!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:50 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
Enough is enough!! No doubt, we have gone back to the dark age.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:55 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
For God's sake, what the hell is happening to this country's law and order situation?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 03:36 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
Muderer must be brought to the justice.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 04:02 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
That criminal should be punished
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 05:03 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
It is time for the nation to really see what measures are taken by the government and for the Daily Star to stay on the case until its resolution. Mere reporting will not cause the stir that is needed to exorcise this malady that persists in Bangladesh society.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 06:09 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
What is happening? Young boys in Bangladesh are now like Beduwin Arab tribals.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 07:06 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
Pinky dear, rest in peace. You were born in a country where two 'powerful' women ruled/rules. but unfortunately they are not for you. They did never care to put at least one of the torchers or acid throwers or killers to dreary death even when they were caught red -handed. This is not a country for girls like you.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 07:07 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
government,chatra league & media are always concious against jamat-shibir. WHY NOT AGAINST STALKER?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 07:29 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
Violence against girls must be stopped if a nation wants to be civilized. In a civilized country violence against women can not exist. We all should stand against the perpetrators.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 07:30 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
How many innocent child has to give their life to wake up the goverment and the soiciety ?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 07:32 AM GMT+06:00 (191 weeks ago)
What is the answer?Not like to see & hear these type of occurense in the country any more.Why our daughters & sisters shall be killed in this manner?For God`s sake please some one come forward to give solution to this problem.The criminals should be hanged in open place & it should be telecasted so that no body in future try to do such crime any more.My appeal to intelectualls to wage a social awareness campaign regarding this issue also.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 10:53 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Well,this is a painful incident indeed where standing in a civilized society we just indulge in barbarism.As ever and always it is surprising that the stance of police is ambiguous.it won't be exggeration to say that we are losing our reciprocal respent continiously which reached in an alarming stage.The fact is the offender remained untouched as well as unpunished that lead them to commit such hateful incident.So,i urge to the govt. as well as civilized society to set an examplory punishment to repeat it again.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 10:55 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Teasing to the school going girl is a common feature in our country.Day by day it's increasing in a large amount.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 11:47 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
People like Tobarak should be given death sentence. Its a disgrace to our society that people like Tobarak are still moving around free...shame on us.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 11:53 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Pinki I am crying & praying for you.
I don't beleve at all what the police said you did not lie in your death bed.Our leaders have forgotten that they have children too.
I hope they feel the pain which you did.Be in peace Pinki.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 10:39 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Expect to see immediate action
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 10:27 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
This is sad and grotesque. What's worse is that this is an epidemic that is taking over our country, where the choice remains between marriage to someone you don't love, or a painful death. When will we send the message to the men of our country that women aren't disposable just because they hurt men's egos and human life has some kind of value. I am disgusted by the mentality of these people who commit such ridiculous and hurtful crimes and hope that some steps are taken towards finding out why violence is the solution.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 11:01 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Govt. should be take necessery step to punish Tobarak Ali.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 11:21 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
There are so many Tobarak in many cities and country sides in Bangladesh. They should get proper punishment
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 11:32 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Blood for blood, so burn him in public place, we the general people of Bangladesh want justice.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:08 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
I don't belive police, nedd to find out actual criminals, and arrest them. it's not a normal suicide.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:19 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
I hate the way our government is taking care of this kind of brutality. I even sometimes get worried when i look at my younger sister. Pls Allah help us. And I beg all the leaders to save our country.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:23 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Daily Star, would you follow up on this until justice is served? Please, do the investigative journalism.If true, investigate the OC, for his alleged attempt to change murder to suicide. That will be bigger preventive measures showing that powerful can not save the criminals.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:30 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Instead of systematic and effective steps to reduce this problem we have the police ordered to monitor schools temporarily! Anyway, people don't trust the police in the first place!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:33 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Unless the police is alert and go after the stalkers and eve teasers in his area, Many such tragedies will continue to occur.. Alas!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 12:59 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Pinky, we have no word to say you sorry. we again failed to secure one of our sister and citizen who could be light up our society.
Pinky what have done with you that is unacceptable and heinous form of cruelty. Moreover perpetrator must nab within short possible time and exemplary punishment must be ensured for culprit.This incident demands quick disposal and quick implementation of orders of competent court.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 11:39 AM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Government need to take immediate action in this regards. Otherwise women education will decrease day by day.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 01:26 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
What do these girls have to do to protect themselves? Carry guns with them everywhere? This is partly due to the law enforcement being unable to accept cases against local criminals. All police stations should be issued notices to take this very seriously and if they do not, they should lose their jobs.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 01:24 PM GMT+06:00 (190 weeks ago)
Chairman!!! Comissioner!!! Local leaders!!!! Society!!!! Police!!! and the like!!! why do we need them when incidents like it are common in our country?
Do we have any social secuirity?
Pinky had been suffering for the last 2 long years before she was killed in the hand of an animal; and where were all those?
The judgement will take again years!!!!!!