Women MPs stand by Rumana
Punishment to her husband Sayeed demanded
Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury visits the ailing teacher of Dhaka University, Rumana Manzur, at LabAid hospital in the city yesterday. Rumana lost her eyes in a wild attack by her husband early this month. Inset, women parliamentarians form a human chain in front of the hospital protesting oppression against women.Photo: STAR
Different organisations, politicians, academics, professionals and women's rights activists yesterday demanded exemplary punishment to Hasan Sayeed Sumon, who brutally tortured and damaged the eyes of his wife Rumana Manzur, a teacher of Dhaka University. Around 30 Awami League-backed woman lawmakers formed a human chain in front of the LabAid Hospital in the city. "We want to express our solidarity to Rumana and assure her that we are beside her during this tough moment in her life," said lawmaker Tarana Halim. Demanding exemplary punishment to the culprit, lawmaker Shagufta Yasmin Emily said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is very much concern about the issue and directed the authorities concerned to ensure exemplary punishment to the accused so that such incident may not occur in future. At the human chain, Rumana's father Manzur Hossain thanked everyone for the support for his daughter and demanded exemplary punishment to Sayeed. Meanwhile, ADCs Masudur Rahman and Mehdi Hasan visited Rumana Manzur at the hospital yesterday to listen to her accounts of the torture. Quoting Rumana, Masudur said that Sayeed attacked on her from the behind and pushed his thumbs into her eyes. They also visited Rumana's father's residence in Dhanmondi in the city yesterday to collect evidence. Rumana, an assistant professor of the Department of International Relations, has lost her eyesight in the attack by her husband Sayeed on June 5. She was readmitted to LabAid on her return from India on June 20 as the Indian doctors said there was no treatment available there for her eyes at that moment. They also confirmed that Rumana's left eye has blinded while another eye did not response to her brain. Biplobi Nari Sanghati formed another human chain in front of the National Press Club at around 4:30pm. Leaders of the women organisation also demanded punishment to Sayeed and shifting of the case under the women and children repression prevention act. They also urged the country's people to be united to stop all sorts of violence against the women. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique also visited Rumana at the hospital and assured her of all kinds of assistance from the university. The Soroptimist International Club in Dhaka in a protest meeting strongly protested the brutal torture on Rumana and demanded exemplary punishment to her husband. In the evening, a group of students and teachers of Dhaka University lighted candles at Ruju Memorial on Dhaka University campus protesting the torture. They also demanded exemplary punishment to the torturer.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments