Madaripur cops summoned for keeping 2 breastfeeding mothers isolated from children

The High Court today summoned two police officers of Madaripur to appear before it for detaining and keeping two breastfeeding mothers isolated from the children for 13 hours.    

Officer-in-charge of Madaripur Sadar Police Station Ziaul Morshed and Sub-Inspector Md Mahtab have been directed to appear before the HC on March 29 to explain their conducts.

In response to a writ petition, the court asked the inspector general of police to submit a report after probing the incident to it by May 9. 

The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain in four weeks as to why the police action detaining and keeping two breastfeeding mothers isolated from the children for 13 hours in an inhuman manner should not be declared illegal.

The home secretary, inspector general of police (IGP), deputy IGP concerned, superintendent of police of Madaripur, OC Ziaul and SI Mahtab have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Rana Kawser seeking necessary order.

Citing from reports published in different newspapers, Rana Kawser told reporters that SI Mahtab went to Lakkhiganj of Madaripur on March 12 to conduct an inquiry into a land related case.

SI Mahtab wanted to know some information from Ponir Hossain, son of Khalek Bepari, about the case, but Ponir said that he did not know about the issue.

At this SI Mahtab become angry and slapped Ponir and locked into an altercation, Advocate Rana Kawser said, adding that SI Mahtab asked for more police force over the phone and ransacked the house of Ponir Hossain.

At a stage, the police led by SI Mahtab dragged wife of Ponir and his elder brother’s wife to the police station and forced them to keep their children isolated. The police kept the breastfeeding women isolated from their children one three months’ old another 18 months’ old, which is inhuman and illegal, the lawyer said.

After 13 hours of detention, police released the breastfeeding women on bond, Advocate Rana Kawser added.