An ill-fated schoolboy's father demanded judicial probe into the death of his son Murad,15, a few days ago due to alleged negligence of teachers of his school.

Mohammad Shoakat Ali demanded this at a press conference at Sylhet Press Club on Saturday afternoon

He complained that his son Murad, a student of class IX in Khajanchibari International School in the city fell sick in his class. But his class teacher was apathetic to his physical ailment. He along with other teachers and Principal of his school school misbehaved him, he alleged. Ultimately, he died.

During the press conference he protested some 'unwanted' comments allegedly passed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC), an ex-officio president of the English medium school's Trustee Board after the death. He termed the comments 'unwanted' and 'silly'.

Students told this correspondent that Muad, an asthma patient, went to the school on the fateful day as usual. But he forgot to take the inhaler with him. As a result he fell sick in the classroom. His mother requested the principal of the school over telephone that she wanted to talk to her son, but the principal declined. Other students of the class also requested their class teacher to let Murad go out as his condition was deteriorating, but the teacher refused. He also rebuked them. Later, she talked to her daughter Papiya, who is also a student in the same class. She told her mother about the deteriorating condition of her brother. At last Murad's mother sent a car to take her son to a doctor. This time Murad's teacher allowed him to go out to see a physician, but on way he died, according to the doctor.

The incident sparked agitation among students, guardians and other quarters in the city. Processions were brought out and a memorandum was

given to the Deputy Commissioner demanding a judicial probe into the matter and punishment to the responsible persons.

The DC formed an inquiry committee with a magistrate to probe the matter. But, it is most interesting to note that he did not mention any time limit to submit the report. So, it is a farce, said Murad's father Shaokat. He expressed his doubt whether the DC was sincere or not in forming the probe committee.

He further alleged that the school authorities removed the posters of a mourning procession organised by his son's sympathetic students and guardians. Surprisingly, he received a number of phone calls for not to proceed further, Shoakat alleged.

Shoakat Ali, an expatriate living in UK read out his written statement in the conference. He told that all his children had British citizenship. But he was rearing up them in his home town.