Call for fast trial of perpetrators

Expressing disappointment over the delayed submission of charge sheets in the cases of recent brutality against women and children, distinguished personalities and many national and international organisations yesterday urged the government to start trial of these cases soon.

Unicef, the parliamentary standing committee on women and children affairs ministry, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, among others, expressed their concern over the delayed trials of the perpetrators who committed these crimes.

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"Unicef strongly believes that the Government of Bangladesh will do everything within its power to bring perpetrators to justice and help to end such violence against children," the organisation said in a statement.

"Unicef Bangladesh observes with alarm the recent incidents of children being subjected to violence and publicly beaten to death in some parts of the country. This is a serious violation of child rights and Unicef expresses its grave concern over such issues which have shaken the entire country," the statement said.

The parliamentary watchdog at a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban condemned the repeated incidents of brutal torture causing children's deaths and frequent rape of women in different parts of the country.

"We have asked the ministry officials to pursue law enforcement agencies for quick submission of charge sheets in the case of Rajon's killing [in Sylhet] and other such barbaric incidents and start the trial process without any delay," Fazilatunnessa Indira, a member of the committee, told The Daily Star.

Begum Mahbub Ara Gini, another member of the committee, said they have also suggested the ministry strongly monitor that charge sheets are submitted quickly.

Speaking at a discussion in the capital's Cirdap auditorium, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman said it is the government that has to act to stop such repressions against children.

He also said fair trial of those incidents will bring people's trust in the rule of law.

Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad asked the government to seek apology to the country's people over the in-fighting between two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League in Magura in which a mother and her unborn child in the womb were bullet-hit.

"The culprits involved in the shooting should be brought to book and the government should seek apology to the people over the incident", Ershad, also a special envoy to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said after visiting the bullet-hit child and her mother at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. 

Mushfiqur Rahim hands over a toy to a child at Dhaka Shishu Hospital yesterday. To show his love for children, the Bangladesh Test captain went to the hospital at the invitation of Ex-Cadet Forum. Photo: Mushfiqur's Facebook page

Meanwhile, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki yesterday said incidents of repression against children and women had also taken place in the country before but we know more about these incidents now as media are focusing on these issues.

Talking to journalists after placing wreaths at the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara, she also rejected allegations that trial process of these cases are going slowly.

Captain of Bangladesh Test Cricket Team Mushfiqur Rahim yesterday termed the repeated incidents of cruelty against children alarming and requested the government to take immediate measures to stop this.

Talking to media at a programme at the Dhaka Shishu (child) Hospital, the ace batsman also demanded capital punishment to the killers.