BNWLA wants action against policemen
Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association (BNWLA) yesterday said the organisation might go to the court if befitting actions are not taken against the policemen for brutal torture and custodial death of Mujibur Rahman in front of his minor son.
Terming the incident "intolerable," BNWLA said witnessing brutal torture of his father has traumatised 11-year-old boy Iqbal. It fears that it may have long lasting effects on him.
Mujibur Rahman was allegedly tortured to death by policemen of Darussalam Police Station when he along with his son was returning home from the victim's father-in-law's house at Malertek on July 1. Iqbal was the lone eyewitness to the brutal torture. The body of Mujibur was later found in the Turag river on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at National Press Club in the city, advocate Salma Ali, executive director of BNWLA, said terming the boy "son of a criminal" by an official of the police station published in the Prothom Alo is "inexcusable."
"The insensitive method that our law enforcers use in front of children has to be changed," she said.
She added, "The state has failed to uphold the rights of the children guaranteed in the constitution of Bangladesh. This incident is a burning example of that."
Prof Shaheen Islam of Psychology department of Dhaka University observed: "Witnessing police brutality [on his father] might have long lasting effects on Iqbal. His trauma could last long. His mental growth as a healthy boy may be disturbed."
Selina Ahmed, director of Child Protection and Kohinoor Begum, deputy director, of Save the Children Sweden-Denmark and Bithika Hassan, project coordinator and advocate Hasina Rashid of BNWLA also spoke.
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