Formation of special cell demanded

A special cell to stop all forms of violence against women should be formulated under the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, demanded three organisations from a human chain yesterday.

Demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the rape of two ethnic minor girls of Khagrachhari and Bandarban, speakers at the human chain also demanded compensation for the victim families.

Hill Women's Federation, Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha and Bangladesh Indigenous Women's Network (BIWN) organised the human chain in front of the Bangladesh National Museum in the capital.

On June 17, a Marma teenage girl was killed after being raped allegedly by four youths in Lalmai upazila. Another teenage Tripura girl, on June 21, was gang-raped allegedly by a group of youths in Khagrachhari.

Speaking at the programme, veteran Politician Pankaj Bhatacharya said violence against women and children in the hill tracts is a form of oppression against indigenous people.

“Rapists get bail in rape cases. Is it a bailable crime?” he questioned, adding that the development of the country would be useless if minorities are deprived of justice.

Associate Professor of Dhaka University Khairul Chowdhury said that the nature of violence against children and women is different; therefore it is high time to think for formulating a special cell under the CHT ministry.

He also suggested political parities of CHT region take special strategy to prevent violence against ethnic minorities. 

Criticising the role of the administration, General Secretary of Bangladesh Adibashi Forum Sanjeeb Drong said ethnic minorities get less priority in terms of justice, and women are the worst sufferers of it.

“The state has failed to protect its women, children and citizens... It was not expected from such a state,” he said, adding that the number of rape incident is on the rise.

Demanding exemplary punishment for the rapists, Coordinator of BIWN Falguni Tripura, said cultural impunity is the major cause behind the recurring rape incidents. She also demanded full implementation of the CHT Accord at the earliest, to ensure rights of ethnic minorities in the CHT region.

Programme Manager (CHT and CD) of Manusher Jonno Foundation Zahed Hasan said rape incidents are the results of cultural impunity and failure of the law enforcement to take necessary actions against perpetrators.

Former secretary of Bangladesh Students' Union Lucky Akhter, Member of Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous People Zannat-E-Ferdousi, representative of Kapaeeng Foundation Shohel Chandra Hajang, and Director (advocacy) of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Jona Goswami also spoke.