Fatema Akhter, an assistant teacher at a government primary school in Bangladesh, has died after allegedly falling ill due to the sound of a stun grenade during a teachers’ movement. She passed away on Sunday (November 16) morning while undergoing treatment at Alok Hospital in Mirpur, Dhaka.
Colleagues claim that on November 8, during the protest at Shahbagh, she became severely distressed and fell ill after the loud explosion of a sound grenade.
Fatema Akhter, who worked at the Jhinaia Government Primary School in North Matlab Upazila of Chandpur district, was a mother of two. Her husband’s name is DM Solaiman.
Teacher leaders reported that Fatema had traveled from Chandpur to Dhaka to take part in the protest, which was organized to press for the demands of assistant teachers—including the implementation of the 10th grade in the national pay scale. She had joined the “pen-down” program on November 8 at Shahbagh.
Saiful Islam, an assistant teacher from Amiapur Dr. Mahal Government Primary School in North Matlab, who was with Fatema during the protest, said:
“We were protesting together. On November 8, at Shahbagh, she became extremely distressed after the loud bang of a sound grenade. She was immediately taken to the hospital, and eventually, she lost her ability to speak. She was moved to the ICU, where she died at around 10 a.m. today.”
Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, President of the Bangladesh Government Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association, said:
“We heard that she was injured due to the sound of the grenade and had been admitted to Alok Hospital in Mirpur. We’re currently on our way to her home and will share more details once we arrive.”
Khairun Nahar Lipi, a leader of the Bangladesh Teachers’ Association (Shaheen-Lipi faction), also confirmed Fatema Akhter’s death.
Family sources say that she will be buried at her home in North Matlab, Chandpur, following her funeral on Sunday night.
