Author:
Publication: HRCBM (The Human Rights
Congress for Bangladesh Minorities)
Date: May 2, 2004
URL: http://www.hrcbm.org/NEWLOOK/motbaria_05-02-04.html
A HRCBM investigative report
Note: Do you want to help these
women and her family, please sent us your contribution by visiting http://
www.hrcbm.org/news/help.html . Alternatively you can voice on by writing
to the nearest Bangladesh Embassy.
Note: The above diagram shows how
HRCBM initiated the investigation within minutes of the matter being noticed
in the newspaper. After noticing the reports in the newspaper, secretary
of newly formed HRCBM south west chapter HRCBM- Khulna visited Jossore
and talked with local officer in charge. Latter in the evening he called
HRCBM International HQ at California, USA within minutes of the call, HRCBM's
President Mr. Dhiman Chowdhury called in SP. The superintendent of police
was unavailable to picuk up the phone, a constable by the name who suggested
to call in inspector in charge of jossore police. The inspector of Jossore
police namely "Mr. Ayub Hassan" was cordial and promised to extend help.
Latter HRCBM-dhaka was informed by HRCBM-Khulna. Both chapters alongwith
a group of journalists and police under the leadership of Advocate Rabindra
Ghosh & Sudhangshu Mallick visited the spot and reported their findings.
An appeal
It is being reported that some
ruling party leaders are involved in misdemeanor with police, they are
excerpting pressure on police to release the criminals those has been arrested.
The corrupted politicians have also warned victims those who are under
police custody at a jossore jail to withdraw the case or they will face
the dire consequences.
Henceforth, We at HRCBM would like
to appeal all human rights organizations and women lawyers group to extend
a helping hand in procuring justice for these women and thus ensuring the
safety and security of the family.
The report
Prepared in Bengali by Mr. Sudhangshu
Mallick, secretary HRCBM-Khulna date 05/02/04. The report is translated
in English by HRCBM volunteer.
At the night of 21st April two minority
women namely Sabita Rani Biswas and Kalidasi were brutally gang raped in
Motbaria village under Kotuwali thana of Jossore district.
A gang of notorious thug of the
same village attacked the family and gang raped both women. The thugs are
Hafijur Rahman, Ajehar, Mahiruddin, Muktar Ali and Moti. The thugs then
warned the victims not to tell anybody or inform police and held the entire
family hostage for days. But the news licked out through whispers which
picked up by some courageous journalists and informed to police. Latter
police rushed to the spot on 28th April, 2004 and rescued both of the women.
They also arrested four of the criminals and brought them to Jossore.
Latter, the incident was noticed
by members of newly formed HRCBM-Khulna chapter who latter informed HRCBM's
International head quarter and HRCBM-dhaka chapter and both chapters together
conducted a thorough investigation for two days.
They have talked with victims,
relatives of the victims, police and local administration, doctor of the
local hospital who treated the victims, local journalists, leaders of minority
community and local community to prepare this report.
Place and incident
The "Motbaria" is a remote village
under Dewara union of kotuwali thana, jossore district.
It is situated approximately 15
to 16 kilometer from Kotuwali thana. Hindu and Muslim both live side by
side here. 60 minority families lived in this village, of whom, many are
lower middle class. These poor minorities mainly live on day labor job,
paddy harvest and fishing.
The gang rape victim Kalidasi is
a house wife of this village. Her age is 35. Husband Dilip Biswas is a
fisherman by profession. Kalidasi has two sons Dilip and Miton and both
are studying class X and VIII respectively.
Other victim of brutal gang rape
is Sabita Rani Biswas is also a house wife of the same village. Her husband
is Bhoven Biswas who abandoned her for a while. The victim has one 15 year
old son and 11 year old daughter namely Gopal and protima. Sabita and Kalidasi
are cousin sisters.
It was the night of 21st April,
Wednesday and Sabita was sleeping at Kalidasi's house. At around 1:30 AM
at night , the thugs of the same village namely Hafijur rahman son of Sukur
Mondol, Ajehar son of Nachir, Mahiruddin son of Rajob Ali, Muktar ali son
of Kismat Mondal, Matiur Rahman son of Rashid and Montu son of Kader attacked
the house. They held the entire family hostage with swords and knives.
They first snatched away Sabita and raped her brutally one after another
and then attacked Kalidasi and Hafijur dragged her to the kitchen. And
there they brutally gang raped Kalidasi. They left the unconscious body
of the women and warned the family for dire consequence if the matter licked
out. The miscreants literally held the family hostage through intimidation
until the victims are rescued by police on 28 th April. Police arrested
four of the miscreants and held the victims on safe custody at local jail.
On 29th April, Sabita filed FIR (First Information Report) at Jossore Kotuwali
thana. Police has recorded the case under Children and women protection
law 9(3) dhara. The case number is 66 dated 29th April, 2004.
At the same day, Police has presented
them before court which has ordered safe custody for the women and medical
examination on 2nd may, 2004.
Sabita and Kalidasi have given
their statements before the first class magistrate of the Jossore court
under 168 dhara.
Statements of Police
The sub inspector of Jsoore thana
Mr. Akkas Ali is the investigative office of this case. When he was asked
to detail the case by Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, President of HRCBM-Dhaka
and Sudhangshu Mallick, secretary of HRCBM-Khulna, the officer stated,
they have apprehended the criminals on 28th April at night based on report
received. They brought victims and criminals to the police station and
recorded a case on 29th April. At the same day they have presented the
victims before the court who ordered safe custody of the women. The
officer has also notified HRCBM members that due to the late medical examination
this case may become weak.
Indicating arrested criminals are
notorious, police imparted that the family members and relative are getting
pressure threatening and pressure from god father of the criminals. A political
group is extremely involved in dismissing the case who are also excerpting
pressure on police.
Victims statements
HRCBM representatives first met
with them at Jossore hospital where the victims were brought for medical
examination. Sabita and Kalidasi described their ordeal with tearful eyes.
They brooked into utter crying while giving the statements to HRCBM. The
victims are fearful of their life and told our representative that the
supporters of the criminals or criminal themselves may kill them anytime.
Sabita and Kalidasi's family are since absconding and escaped from the
village fearing further attack on them.
Fearing the life, Kalidasi's son
Dipak is absconding and not found while writing this report. It is to be
noted that Hafijur has also occupied 5 kata land of Kalidasi. The victims
think, Hafijur and his gang has planed to wipe them out of the village
and the torture is just the beginning of the conspiracy.
Thorough Investigation
HRCBM has done a massive and thorough
investigation on the incident and visited the hot spot "motbaria" village.
They talked with Kalidasi's mother Astobala. She was unable to disclose
everything at first due to constant pressure on them. Astobala whispered,
if she says anything against the criminals she will be killed.
Her relatives were also tight
lipped fearing repercussion. Apart from victims's relatives, some journalists
from Jossore namely Pradip Ghosh, Riton and Ltion alongwith right activist
Mukul and local minority leaders asserted that the family is not safe in
this village. Minorities from neighboring village also asserted that it
is extremely dangerous fro the family to live in that village. The criminals
may get release and killed them latter.
HRCBM's Activity
The representatives of the organization
have appealed before the local administration for the protection of the
family. They also offered the victims to be placed at its Orphanage
temporarily until the criminals are punished and the organization will
also ask for there custody in the court so that the victims can be placed
at its orphanage until criminals are sentenced.
