Justice for Lakingme
The tragic incident of one Lakingme Chakma has come to the fore, but cruelty against "many Lakingmes" have been left in the dark, Dhaka University professor Robaet Ferdous said yesterday.
He was speaking at a candlelit vigil and rally in front of the national parliament at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. Demanding justice for deceased Lakingme Chakma, five rights organisations held the event where dozens held candles, banners and placards in memory of the 14-year-old from Teknaf who was abducted, converted and married to one of her abductors, and eventually murdered.
The protest was jointly organised by Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha (BNPS), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), Manusher Jonno Foundation and Bangladesh Adivasi Forum.
A number of indigenous student organisations —Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad, Pahari Chhatra Parishad, Adivasi Youth Forum, Jono-Udyog, Adivasi Women Network, Sammilito Samajik Andolon also expressed solidarity with the protest.
Fourteen-year-old Lakingme was abducted from her Shilkhali Chakma Para home on January 5 last year. Later, she was kept at nearby villages until January 8. On January 9, she was taken to Shahpori Island in Teknaf, where she was detained at Kala Monu's home for the next two days, found a 10-member investigation team of rights activists, indigenous community leaders, journalists and teachers.
Prof Farha Tanjim Titil of Kushtia Islamic University, one of the investigation team members was present at the protest.
She said, "On January 11, 2020, Lakingme was taken to Cumilla by Ataullah and later on she was converted and married to him at a registrar's office. If OC Pradeep Kumar Das [now accused of killing Maj Sinha] of Teknaf Police Station would have recorded the case of Lakingme's father Lala Aung Chakma, she could have been rescued."
According to her, although Lala managed to file a case with Cox's Bazar Women and Children Repression Tribunal on January 27 that year, the PBI negligently investigated the case. And after 11 months and six days, Lakingme's body was found in a Cox's Bazar hospital morgue.
Prof Titil also demanded that she was abducted, forcibly converted and married at 14 years of age, which means she was raped. The family must get justice and the accused must be held accountable for this.
"Besides, the law enforcers must investigate whether she killed herself or was murdered because we have found many examples that she was instigated to commit suicide," said Prof Titil.
"Lakingme's family must be given protection since they are feeling insecure, and they must be given compensation. Also, a departmental inquiry into PBI's negligence must be carried out and punishment must be ensured for those involved in certificate forgery, forced conversion and marriage of the minor," she added.
She also expressed concern over maintenance and guardianship of Lakingme's child.
Expressing solidarity with the protest, Prof Dr Robayet Ferdous of Dhaka University said there are "many Lakingmes" who had to endure such cruelty.
Lakingme became the victim of identity politics and all this was done in an attempt to destroy her Chakma identity, he added.
Rina Roy, director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said 1,627 girl children and women swere raped in the past year. "But we have not seen any reflection of this in the judiciary."
"Marriage of a 14-year-old girl is not acceptable in any way and it amounts to rape and coercion. We are demanding justice for Lakingme," she added.
Sanjeeb Drong, president of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, presided over the protest.
No citizen of this beloved state deserves such cruel death like Lakingme, he said. "We want to see this state as more sensitive and more democratic one; we demand a humane Bangladesh."
Advocate Rafiq Ahmed Siraji of ALRD; Maithen Promila, member of Adivasi Forum and Lakingme's lawyer Md Mohiuddin also joined the protest, moderated by Shahnaz Sumi, deputy director of BNPS.
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