Dhaka, July 25 -- As the clock struck 1pm on Monday, July 21, Maherin Chowdhury could be seen arriving at the main gate of the Milestone School and College campus in Diyabari, right on the northern edge of Dhaka's unplanned urban sprawl. As the bell rang for the end of the school day, Maherin miss, like every other day of the week, started handing over the students rushing out of class to their guardians, her presence a source of reassurance and guidance for both students and parents alike.

Having spent 18 years at the institution and helped it grow into a formidable name in the education sector, Maherin miss was a most revered figure on campus, commanding love and respect in equal measure from all comers. She started out as a teacher, a...