Rape of Late Freedom Fighter's Minor Daughter
Agitation in Nilphamari for arrest of rapist
Our Correspondent, Nilphamari
Freedom fighters, joined by people, brought out a procession in Nilphamari town, held a rally in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office and handed over memorandums yesterday demanding arrest and punishment to the rapist of a minor daughter of a late freedom fighter. At the rally, the freedom fighters threatened of a 'mass hunger strike' and other tough agitation porogrammes if the rapist is not arrested within 15 days. The victim's mother, Banu Bewa, told the rally that she and her daughter would take their life in front of DC's office if the culprit is not arrested and punished. The 11year-old minor daughter (name not mentioned) of late freedom fighter Mujibur Rahman was violated on the night of December 21, allegedly by Abdul Khalek, 47, a BNP leader in Tupamari union in Sadar upazila. The victim filed a case with Sadar thana police next day. Medical test of the victim done on the same day also proved that she was violated, sources said earlier. The victim, a student of class six, earlier told newsmen that on the night of December 21, her mother went to visit her ailing sister in another village. She (victim) was sleeping with her nephew. At about midnight, Abdul Khalek, accompanied by an unidentified man, entered her room and raped her. As she cried for help, the rapist and his accomplice fled way, leaving behind his cell phone, jacket, sandal and a muffler at the spot, she added. Police seized the cell phone, jacket, sandal and muffler as evidence. Freedom fighters and women's rights activists including Bangladesh Mohila Parishad and Nari Andolon also brought out processions and held meetings earlier protesting the incident and demanding punishment to the culprit. But the alleged rapist has not been arrested 15 days after the incident. At yesterday's protest rally, victim's mother Banu Bewa alleged that the rapist is moving freely in the area. Freedom fighters' leader Zoinal Abedin declared at rally that all freedom fighters in Nilphamari will begin a fast unto death if the rapist is not arrested. The rally over, president of Nilphamari Sadar upazila unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad submitted memorandums to the Deputy Commissioner and the Police Superintendent. Accepting the memorandum on behalf of the DC, ADC (General) Alef Uddin Ahmed said the rapist would be caught and punished. SP Shoeb Ahmed also assured freedom fighters that police would do everything to arrest the criminal.
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