Angry protests on in Rajshahi demanding Mili murder trial

Government PN Girls High School at Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi city wears a deserted look during yesterday’s strike. Mili was a student of this school. PHOTO: STAR

They demanded speedy trial of the case and exemplary punishment of the killers while people held a demonstration at Ghospara and Shaheb Bazar.

Eleven year-old Mafroza Begum Mili, a student of class V at PN Government High School, was gangraped and strangled on May 3 in the morning.

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Her father Mansur Rahman Mollah, an Instructor at Rajshahi Postal Academy, filed the case accusing Fazle Rabbi Rion, his relative Saiduzzaman Minar and his neighbour Fazlur Rahman, an employee of Power Development Board.

Avoiding classes, students at most of the schools in the city demonstrated on the campuses, wearing black badges.

Different organisations have called a day-long hartal on May 30 in Rajshahi demanding trial of the murder.

Different socio-cultural, professional, child and human rights bodies have expressed their solidarity with the hartal programme.

Yesterday, different organisations put up demonstrations on Rajshahi city streets, criticising police for not taking action against Mili's rapists and killers, who have alleged links with a ruling BNP lawmaker.

Some police sources however told this correspondent that the case was being processed for investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

This (CID investigation) is an eye-wash, many people alleged while talking to this correspondent. They claimed that police are under political pressure.

The murder created a public anger, prompting demonstrations by hundreds of city dwellers including women and children.

Different organisations including Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, Professionals' Allied Council and Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad held demonstrations in the city earlier.

Meanwhile police arrested all the three accused persons and interrogated them, but could not make any clue, they said.

The police said that the three were found inside the house where Mili was gangraped and killed. Neighbours rescued Mili by breaking the door.

Mili was left home alone as her father went to office and mother had gone to bring her brother home from a coaching center.

Meanwhile, a medical board headed by Dr Ashraful Alam, chairman of forensic department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, confirmed that Mili was raped before murder.