Brutalities on Women and Children
Over 200 cases filed in Tangail in 7 months
Two hundred and five cases under Women and Children Repression Prevention Act were filed in Tangail district from November 2009 to May this year while several women and children were murdered and raped in different upazilas of the district during the last one month.
Of the cases filed with 13 police stations in the district, 34 cases were filed in November last year, 39 in December the same year, 35 in January, 25 in February, 33 in March, 23 in April and 16 cases were filed in May this year, police said.
However, representatives of non-governmental and human rights organisations said the incidents of women and children repression in the district during the period would be much more as many victims did not file cases to avoid social stigma and harassment by the influential perpetrators.
In some cases, victims did not file cases as the matter was 'settled' through village arbitrations, they said.
Several other incidents of brutalities on women and children, including murder and rape, occurred in different upazilas of the district recently.
On July 3, body of Molida Begum, 20, of Jhopna Purbapara village in Dhanbari upazila, was found in nearby Bairan River after her husband Lemon, 25, killed her for dowry.
Dhanbari police said they arrested Lemon's parents but the killer is still at large.
Body of housewife Laila Akter, 20, of Garilabari village under Kalihati upazila, was found at a nearby jute field after her dowry-greedy husband Abdul Khaleq strangled her. Kalihati police said they could not arrest Khaleq despite launching regular drives.
On July 4, a teenager girl of Kaharta village under Sakhipur upazila was raped and the scene was recorded by mobile camera.
Sakhipur police said they arrested one Akash in connection with the rape incident and took him on a two-day remand for quizzing but could not arrest local BCL leader Habibullah Itihas, the main accused, and two other accomplices.
A teenager of Kalipur area in Tangail town was abducted on June 28.
On June 25, body of six-year-old Farzana Akter was found at a jute filed of Habla Uttarpara village in Basail upazila after the girl was killed after rape.
Following a case filed by the victim's mother, police arrested three people of the same village including the main accused Sajib and the arrestees were sent to jail after they gave confessional statements under Section 164, Basail police said.
On June 19, housewife Kana Akter, 25, of Karatipara village in the same upazila, was killed by his dowry greedy husband Sujan Miah and in-laws. Police filed a case with Basail Police Station in this regard but could not arrest Sujan Miah, the main accused.
On June 22, housewife Ruma Begum at Chatutia village under Gopalpur upazila and her child daughter were burnt to death by her husband. Gopalpur police later arrested the killer husband Obaidur Rahman.
Asked about so many incidents of torture on women and children in the district, Tangail Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman said, "Police under the areas concerned are taking necessary legal steps after investigating the cases. Moreover, an additional superintendent of police in the district has been given the responsibility to supervise the cases.”
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