Human chain, road barricade today, hartal tomorrow

Submission of a final report in the case by police, allegedly dropping the main culprits due to political influence, fuelled the agitation. Schoolgirl Mafruza Khatun Mili was raped and killed on May 3 when she was alone at home in the city.

People, led by the newly formed 'movement council for justice to murders like Mili', held a rallies in the morning and in the evening yesterday protesting the role of police in the investigation and demanding punishment to the culprits.

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The week-ling agitation, announced at the evening rally, include a three-hour human chain and road barricade today, a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the city on September 25 and a students' strike next day.

Demonstrations will be held on the court premises on September 26 when the Women and Children Repression Prevention Court will hear the final report. The movement council with Mili's mother Hasina Begum its convenor and journalist Saidur Rahman its member secretary was formed at a meeting at Miapara public library in the morning.

With Hasina Begum in the chair, the meeting was addressed by, among others, Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad Conveynor Zamat Khan, Mohila Parishad General Secretary Kolpona Roy, Barind Development Forum Director Fayezullah Chowdhury, journalists Shafikul Islam, Saidur Rahman, Zahangir Alam Aakash, Selim Zahangir, former Awami League lawmaker Zinnatun Nesa Talukhdar, NGO leader Debashish Pramanik Debu, Prof Rozetti Nasrin and lawyer Khairul Alam.

The criminal investigation department of police submitted the final report in Mili rape and murder case to a Magistrate court on September 19.

The report recommended dropping of three accused persons -- Fazle Rabi Lion, Saduzzaman Minar and Fazlur Rahman-- from the case, saying that the DNA tests of the accused and of the victim proved that the accused persons were not involved in the gruesome uncident.

The report also sought permission of the court for further investigation against.

The victim's lawyers however claimed that the DNA tests were manipulated.

"Police spent over Tk 10 lakh for the DNA tests in Singapore. The test materials were tempered to save the rapists", Khairul Alam, one of the lawyers told this correspondent.

"Mili's case is an example how police can manipulate a case", he said.

Mili's family members alleged that ruling party leaders were influencing the investigation.

Meanwhile, the Magistrate court sent the case report to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Court.