A case of sheer negligence

The government is yet to take any action against the registrar -- who recorded the marriage of deceased Lakingme Chakma, a 14-year-old girl -- based on a fake birth certificate and others involved.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha sent a letter to the Cumilla district registrar on January 20, requesting him to cancel marriage registrar (Kazi) Nurul Islam's license.

The letter signed by Shahanaz Sumi, deputy director of the organisation, also asked Md Anwarul Haque Chawdhury to take legal action in this regard after a proper investigation.

Asked, the district registrar said, "I have received the letter. We will start a probe from February 8.

After investigation, he said, they will send the findings and recommendations to the ministry concerned to take appropriate action.

Sixth grader Lakingme was allegedly abducted from her home in Shilkhali Chakma para of Teknaf on January 5 last year. According to her birth certificate, she was 14 years and 10 months old on that day.

Her father Lala Aung Chakma said they went to Teknaf Police Station to file a case, but then OC Pradeep Kumar Das, accused in killing Maj (retd) Sinha, refused to record it.

"I filed a case with Cox's Bazar Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on January 17 last year," he said.

And after 11 months and six days, Lakingme's body was found in a Cox's Bazar hospital morgue.

After her abduction, she was kept at nearby villages until January 8. On January 9, she was taken to Shahpori Island in Teknaf, where she was detained for the next two days, found a 10-member investigation team of rights activists, indigenous community leaders, journalists and teachers.

On January 11, 2020, Lakingme was taken to Cumilla by Ataullah, one of the alleged abductors. She was then converted and married to him at the said registrar's office at Cumilla Judge Court on January 21.

Ataullah submitted the documents to the law enforcement agencies, claiming that they got married through notarized affidavit at the judge court. He also claimed to have a "birth certificate" that said she was 18.

Wing Commander Azim Ahmed of Rab-15 said during investigation, they scrutinised Lakingme's birth certificate, medical report and other documents and found that she was an underage girl.

This correspondent spoke to Nurul Islam, a government-listed Kazi of ward-9 at Cumilla City Corporation, who registered the marriage of Lakingme with Ataullah.

"I recorded the marriage in a lawyer's chamber at Cumilla Bar Association building. Didar Hossain, an apprentice lawyer, and advocate Kazi Anayetullah showed me the notarized affidavit, which said she has converted and changed her name, and also the birth certificate."

When asked if he had verified those, he replied in the negative.

Notary Public advocate Siddikur Rahman echoed the same.

"Advocate Anayetullah verified the identity of the bride and bridegroom... so I notarized it based on the papers given to me," he said.

Contacted, Anayetullah said, "Our apprentice lawyer Didar introduced Ataullah and showed me the girl's birth certificate and other documents. I did not know they were false."

Asked, Didar, an apprentice lawyer of Cumilla Bar Association, said, "I provided the documents I received from Ataullah. I did not do anything wrong. Ataullah is responsible for everything. He concealed the truth from us."

He also claimed that he did not know Ataullah before, and he was a "walk-in client".

Earlier, Ataullah had alleged that he managed all the documents with the help of a local lawyer -- Didar Hossain -- by paying Tk 60,000, said court sources. 

Didar, however, refuted the allegation. Ataullah is now on the run.

The officials concerned must verify the age of a girl before her marriage, said Syed Nurur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Cumilla. "Child marriage is a punishable offence. Those involved in such act should be brought to book," he said.

Advocate Ashikur Rahman, a High Court lawyer and member of Cumilla Bar Association, said, "Such illegal practices continue at the judge court, which has to be dealt with firmly."

He also demanded strict punishment for those involved in such illegal practices.