Opinion: Secrets and Lies | The Daily Star
Skip to main content
E-paper বাংলা
T
TODAY’S NEWS
DU’s BCL-JCD activists clash near High Court; gunshots heard Bangladeshi pilgrims have to pay Tk 59,000 in addition to Hajj package 2 detained over BCL-JCD clash at High Court area Under new identity, death row convict militant Mufti Hai was hiding in N’ganj Bangabandhu Cricket Tournament in Portugal brings joy to expatriates PM urges Bangladesh’s dev partners to help implement Delta Plan 2100 Lankans bowled out at last, Bangladesh begin second innings DSE index rises as investors rush to buy stocks Driver, helper arrested for trying to rape woman on running bus in Ctg India likely to consider limiting rice export Unregistered pvt hospitals, clinics must be closed in 72 hrs Seven Bangladeshi youths on Forbes 30 Under 30 2022 Asia list Price hike of ingredients threaten fish and chips, a British tradition Shironamhin to perform in India for the first time Imran Khan demands Pakistan election be announced in 6 days
The Daily Star
Journalism Without Fear or Favour
Friday, May 27, 2022
  • E-paper
  • বাংলা
TODAY’S NEWS
DU’s BCL-JCD activists clash near High Court; gunshots heard Bangladeshi pilgrims have to pay Tk 59,000 in addition to Hajj package 2 detained over BCL-JCD clash at High Court area Under new identity, death row convict militant Mufti Hai was hiding in N’ganj Bangabandhu Cricket Tournament in Portugal brings joy to expatriates PM urges Bangladesh’s dev partners to help implement Delta Plan 2100 Lankans bowled out at last, Bangladesh begin second innings DSE index rises as investors rush to buy stocks Driver, helper arrested for trying to rape woman on running bus in Ctg India likely to consider limiting rice export Unregistered pvt hospitals, clinics must be closed in 72 hrs Seven Bangladeshi youths on Forbes 30 Under 30 2022 Asia list Price hike of ingredients threaten fish and chips, a British tradition Shironamhin to perform in India for the first time Imran Khan demands Pakistan election be announced in 6 days
The Daily Star
Friday, May 27, 2022 | Journalism Without Fear or Favour
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
    • Asia
    • World
  • Views
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Health
    • Diseases
    • Healthcare
    • Food
  • Coronavirus
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • More Sports
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Organisation News
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Film
    • Music
    • Theatre & Arts
  • Culture
    • Art & Design
    • Books
  • Life & Living
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food & Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
  • Youth
    • Education
    • Careers
    • Young Icons
  • Tech & Startup
    • Science, Gadgets, and Tech
    • Startups
    • Automobiles
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Law & Our Rights
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Supplements
  • Environment
    • Climate crisis
    • Natural resources
    • Pollution
  • NRB
বাংলা T
  • Home
  • News
    • Bangladesh
    • Asia
    • World
  • Views
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Health
    • Diseases
    • Healthcare
    • Food
  • Coronavirus
  • Sports
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • More Sports
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Global Economy
    • Organisation News
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Film
    • Music
    • Theatre & Arts
  • Culture
    • Art & Design
    • Books
  • Life & Living
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food & Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
  • Youth
    • Education
    • Careers
    • Young Icons
  • Tech & Startup
    • Science, Gadgets, and Tech
    • Startups
    • Automobiles
  • Feature
    • Lifestyle
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Showbiz
    • Star Health
    • Satireday
    • Shout
    • Toggle
    • Star Literature
    • In Focus
    • Star Youth
    • Law & Our Rights
    • Daily Star Books
    • Roundtables
    • Supplements
  • Environment
    • Climate crisis
    • Natural resources
    • Pollution
  • NRB

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • SMS Subscription
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
Country

Opinion: Secrets and Lies

Aasha Mehreen Amin
Aasha Mehreen Amin
Tue Jun 21, 2016 04:03 PM Last update on: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:34 PM
Tonu murder
Sohagi Jahan Tonu. Photo was taken from Facebook

Sometimes shock treatment is the only way to remember the dead. The picture of a smiling Tonu in an orange headscarf has become a familiar sight for us ordinary folks. It is a haunting reminder of how people with influence can hide the most blatant truth – that Tonu was raped and murdered before being dumped into the bushes. Now after more than three months her murder is shrouded in more mystery than ever and all we are left with is the heartrending testimony of Tonu's mother Anwara Begum.

The face of Anwara Begum can never be forgotten. A mother pleading for justice for her precious child. It is as if she has not suffered enough losing her beloved daughter; she must also bear the burden of not knowing how she was killed and the trauma of seeing nothing being done to catch those who tortured and snuffed out her child's life. And now she must live in constant fear for the rest of the family; her husband, Tonu's unfortunate father, who had to identify his daughter's corpse, almost got run over by a car, then a motorbike. In an emotional outburst at a protest gathering in Comilla, Anwara further stated that the family is constantly under watch, that they have been asked not to talk to anyone about the murder and that 'they' took away Tonu's diary and picture album.

For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.

Rape and murder after rape are no longer shocking news for people in a country where, according to Ain O Salish Kendra there have been 299 incidences of rape between January and May this year, with 18 of the victims killed.

But Shohagi Jahan Tonu's case has struck a chord with every ordinary civilian. It is an example of how facts can be manipulated, hidden or made to disappear to protect those who enjoy some sort of unholy immunity. It is clear from reports in the media that the first autopsy of Tonu's dead body was a cruel joke as the doctors conducting it found no evidence of anything – no rape, no murder, nothing. Then her family had to bear with her body being exhumed from the grave and sent for the second autopsy, surprisingly to the same medical college in Comilla where the farcical first autopsy had been done. Again no definite cause of death could be established and no apparent proof of sexual assault. Thankfully, the court ordered DNA tests which have revealed that she was in fact raped, probably by three different men but even now there is an attempt to push the truth under the carpet. So far we don't know whether the agency investigating the case has found any matches for the DNA results.

In this long, agonizing wait that may never end, Anwara Begum and the other family members are left helpless and defeated. For the rest of us it is the regular shock treatment of updates in the news reminding us of the travesty of justice surrounding this murder that keeps the memory of Tonu alive. 

Related topic
Bangladesh / Tonu killing / justice for Tonu / Comilla
Apple Google
Click to comment

Comments

Comments Policy

Related News

Sohagi Jahan Tonu
Country

Tonu murder: Second autopsy report due tomorrow

Country

7 killed in Comilla road crash

Crime & Justice

Tonu’s parents call DNA test findings a clear path to justice

A scene from Chorki show, Pett Kata Shaw.
2w ago| SHOUT

Did Pett Kata Shaw reinvent the Bangladeshi horror genre?

Country

‘Arms making factory’ busted in Comilla, 3 held

The Daily Star  | বাংলা
১৮ মিনিট আগে|রোগ

২০ দেশে মাঙ্কিপক্স শনাক্ত, প্রতিরোধে বাংলাদেশ কতটা প্রস্তুত?

চিকেনপক্স যেভাবে ছড়ায় মাঙ্কিপক্সও একইভাবে ছড়ায়। গায়ে ফোসকা পড়ে। এই ফোসকার মধ্যে যে পানি থাকে সেখানে ভাইরাস...

৩১ মিনিট আগে|রাজনীতি

ছাত্রদলের ওপর ছাত্রলীগের সন্ত্রাসী হামলার পরিণতি শুভ হবে না: খন্দকার মোশাররফ

The Daily Star
Follow Us
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • SMS Subscription
  • Apps
  • Comment Policy
  • RSS
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Conference Hall
  • Archives
© 2022 thedailystar.net | Powered by: RSI LAB
Copyright: Any unauthorized use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.