Staff Reporter:
Teacher Deen Islam, who was named by Jagannath University student Fairuz Sadaf Abontika as one of two persons responsible for her death before committing suicide on Friday, has tried to explain his position by releasing a statement.
“Assalamu Alaikum, I am Deen Islam, assistant professor, Department of Management Education, Jagannath University. Firstly, I am a human, secondly, I am a teacher, and thirdly, I am the father of two daughters. I request that you listen carefully to my words and run after the real facts. Please do not put my life in danger and orphan my children,” said the statement.
“I am deeply saddened by the untimely death of Fairuz Sadaf Abontika, a 13th-batch student in the Jagannath University Law Department. I pray for the forgiveness of Abantika’s departed soul.”
“I am sharing the true story of our student Abontika and her classmates.”
The incident occurred about one and a half years ago. Abontika’s batchmates made a general diary (GD) at Kotwali police station, where Abontika was also present. GD mentioned that someone harassed them by opening a fake account on Facebook. The police then assured a higher investigation and said that they would find out who was maintaining the ID within the next 72 hours, it said.
Hearing this, Abontika confessed to her friends on her way out of the police station and on her way to the campus that she was running the ID (fake account) herself. Then her friends brought her to the proctor’s office and filed a written complaint against Abontika on August 8, 2022.
Given the complaint, Mustafa Kamal, who was the proctor at the time, assigned me and Assistant Proctor Gautam Kumar Saha (Mathematics Department), sir, to investigate on August 11, 2022.
“Later on, August 16, 2022, in the presence of the proctor, sir, I and assistant proctor Gautam Kumar Saha called Abontika and her parents to come to the proctor’s office. Then Abontika’s mother came to the meeting, and everyone, including Abontika’s classmates, was present. Abontika’s mother then tells her batchmates the truth about the incident.”
Then she said that what her daughter had done was wrong, sincerely apologized to all those who complained about the incident, and promised that her daughter would not do such things again in the future. She said that if she does the same thing, they will take her responsibility. Her mother requested forgiveness for this time and said: ‘My daughter is a good student, but she has been mentally ill for a few days and is taking medicine.’
Then her batchmates looked at it humanely and forgivingly. In this way, the matter is initially settled. After that, Abontika’s mother repeatedly requested the complainants withdraw the GD. However, the complainants refused to withdraw the GD, as they felt Abontika might repeat such behaviour in the future.
Then it was not possible to withdraw the GD immediately. The complainants said that they will observe her for the next three months, and if Abontika returns to normal, they will withdraw the GD after three months. Troubles are primarily resolved here.
“A few days later, Abontika and her mother came to the university, and instead of meeting in the proctor’s office, they came to my department, as in my area, I treated them as best I could. As she is from my area and she is a guardian, I treated her with the utmost respect at my place. On that day, Abontika’s mother told me that Abontika’s dormitory friends were not treating her well and that she was mentally broken.”
“I then advised them to complain in writing to the proctor’s office. Then Abontika’s mother said that after what had happened, she did not want to do it and said she would not keep her daughter in the dormitory, it would make her studies worse and she would be more mentally broken.”
“Then I told her that she could do what she felt best as a parent. I will continue to cooperate in any need. More than three months after the complaint was settled, Abontika and her parents came to the proctor’s office to withdraw the GD, but her batchmates refused. Then Abontika’s parents and Abontika again called me and came to meet in my department.”
“That time, I was taking the class. Then, after leaving the class, I took them to my room and treated them as best I could. Then they requested that I withdraw GD. I then tried to explain to them that it was out of my hands. Our job is to investigate and report, and that’s what we were doing. I suggested they talk to the proctor, sir, and complainers about GD and settle the matter.”
Immediately, Abontika’s mother said in a disappointing tone, “I have been living with two (Abontika and her father) depression patients for so many years. I am also getting very sick, and my daughter is suffering from severe depression.” After that, I have not had any contact with Abontika and her family till on Ssturday.”
Deen Islam’s comment on Abontika’s Facebook status before her death:
“First of all, the allegations given against me of cooperating with Amman in various ways, are completely false and baseless, Because the incident that took place on August 16, 2022, was solved. Then there was no discussion with anyone about the matter.”
Abontika and her mother were called only once to the proctor’s office. At that time, Proctor Mustafa Kamal Sir, Assistant Proctor Gautam Saha Sir, and her friends, who complained, were present. The issue of multiple calls and harassment is completely false and baseless. Because the matter was settled that day.
“The then-Proctor Mustafa Kamal Sir can say well about the non-trial of sexual harassment and intimidation charges brought against Amman in the Proctor’s Office in the Suicide Note. I am not aware of this complaint.”
“I never said anything about the expulsion of Abontika in the suicide note later. Because after the matter was settled, I have not talked or communicated with Abantika or her family even once in the last one and a half years.”
“Something I have to say: ‘As a teacher, it is my moral responsibility to stand by the students and work for them. In my long 11 years of teaching, I have been with the students to the fullest. Insh’Allah, I will continue to be so in the future.’ It is requested not to think wrongly by depending only on the status.”
“I am fully prepared to provide full cooperation to the university administration and other law enforcement agencies to unravel the true mystery of this unexpected incident. It is requested to make decisions and comments after knowing the right information.”
