Fatwa enforcers find victim guilty
Four arrestees were taken on remand yesterday for links with a fatwa (religious edict) that led to whipping of a rape victim and her death in consequence in Shariatpur.
Fourteen-year-old Hena, daughter of farmer Darbesh Kha of Chamta village in Naria upazila, was raped by her cousin Mahbub, 40, Sunday night. Being raped was the crime for which she lost her life on Monday as a punishment.
The victim’s father filed a murder case with Naria Police Station accusing 18 people.
Naria police arrested four of the accused and prayed for a seven-day remand before the court. Judicial Magistrate Abdul Mannan granted remand for three days for Mahbub’s wife Shilpi Begum, two days for Mofiz Uddin, imam of Chamta village mosque, and one day each for Joynal Meer Malot and Alabux Korati.
Rapist Mahbub and other accused are on the run.
Shariatpur Police Superintendent AKM Shahidur Rahman said the arrestees have been taken on remand. Police are hunting for the other accused.
Shariatpur Civil Surgeon Golam Sarwar said that after post mortem of the body, samples have been sent to Dhaka Medical Forensic Department for viscera report.
Meanwhile, Hena was buried at her family graveyard yesterday after a namaz-e-janaza in the afternoon.
Different organisations held rallies and human chains in protest at the social crime. They demanded immediate arrest and punishment of Mahbub and the ones who issued and executed the fatwa. Shusashoner Janno Nagorik (Shujan), district unit of an alliance for prevention of domestic repression; Prothom Alo Bandhu Shabha and district unit of Human Rights Commission held a human chain in front of the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office.
The victim’s family said Idris Fakir, a union parishad member and an accused in the case, have been offering Hena’s father Tk 7 lakh to stop proceeding with the case.
On Sunday night, Hena went out of her house to respond to nature’s call when Mahbub, forcibly took her to a nearby abandoned house and raped. Hearing Hena screaming, Mahbub’s wife Shilpi Begum and brother came to that place. But instead of taking any action against Mahbub, they beat up the rape victim. At one stage, Hena’s father and some relatives reached the spot and rescued her.
As the news spread through the village, some locals including Idris Fakir, Saiful, a teacher of Chamta Abul Bashar Madrasa; Mofiz Uddin, Latif Meer Malot, Akkas, Yasin and Joynal Meer Malot, Alabux Korati arranged for arbitration. They sentenced the rapist to 200 lashes with Tk 50,000 fine and 100 lashes to the victim.
The punishment for the rapist, Mahbub, was reduced from 200 to 100 lashes. But Hena could not escape punishment and lost her consciousness after 60 to 70 whippings. Her relatives took her to Naria Upazila Health Complex where she finally lost her battle for life Monday night.
