SI allegedly behind <i>fatwa</i> in Rangpur closed
Sub-inspector Golam Minhaj of Detective Branch (DB) of police has been withdrawn from Rangpur and attached with Rajshahi divisional headquarters for the sake of proper investigation into his alleged 'fatwa' (edict) asking women to wear veil.
"A high-powered police team is investigating the matter. Presence of SI Minhaj in Rangpur might give rise to question about transparency of the investigation. Therefore, he was withdrawn from Rangpur,” Rangpur Superintendent of Police Saleh Mohammad Tanvir said on Friday.
Several of the 19 girls and boys, who were picked up by a team of DB police from Rangpur Zoo and Surovi Udyan on March 1 on charge of 'anti-social' activities and later released the same day, have demanded punishment to the policemen for 'harassing them for nothing'.
They, however, said SI Minhaj did not give any fatwa to women about wearing veil.
"The arrest has become a prestige concern for me and my family," said a female HSC candidate from Government Begum Rokeya College.
Her father said she did not eat anything for two days after her release from DB police office.
When asked if anyone of DB police asked them to wear veil she answered negatively.
A teenage girl of village Habu in Gangachara upazila said she went to visit Rangpur Zoo with her cousin on March 1 when police picked her up without any reason.
"The incident left my daughter mentally shocked. Police could have released her from the zoo after questioning," said her father.
The girl said she did not hear police instructing the detainees to wear veil.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments