Threat to indigenous rape victim, police indifferent
Say two rights groups
The raped daughter of an indigenous freedom fighter and her family members in Tangail are being threatened instead of being provided due justice.
The alleged rapist, Helal Hossain, 35, who is a garments worker in Dhaka and a resident of Bhuaid village in Tangail district, even filed a case against the victim and her family members.
Bangladesh Adivasi Odhikar Andolon and Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha demanded immediate arrest and punishment of Helal at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday. They also demanded security to the victim and her family members.
An investigation by the two organisations and National Coalition on Adivasi Affairs found that police have remained indifferent to the matter.
The family is also receiving threat from a local influential leader named Habibur Rahman, to withdraw the case against the rapist, said leaders of the organisations.
On the night of July 17, Helal broke into the house of the victim and raped her in front of her 5-year-old son. He was caught while trying to escape and was beaten up by the victim's brother-in-law. However on the next day, Helal's family members forcefully took him away.
Despite intervention from a local Awami League leader, a police case was filed following newspaper reports.
The organisation leaders also added that Helal has been harassing and stalking women of the village for some time. He was held accused in several village arbitrations but was never punished.
"He was encouraged to repeat his crimes yet once again because he went unpunished for his previous crimes," read the statement.
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