‘PBI resorted to victim-blaming’

Twenty-one women's rights activists yesterday condemned the final report of a rape and murder case submitted to a Dhaka court by Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), saying the report tried to establish that accused Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, was "innocent".

The investigators also tried to assassinate victim Mosarat Jahan Munia's character.

In short, it appears that PBI resorted to a "victim-blaming method", reads the statement.

Sayem and seven others were accused in a case -- filed on September 6, 2021 -- over Munia's rape and murder. 

PBI in its report sought a court order for the acquittal of the accused.

Signatories of the statement include Prof Geeti Ara Nasreen, Prof Mirza Taslima Sultana, Rani Yan Yan, Kajalie Shehreen Islam, Samina Luthfa, Nasrin Siraj, Taslima Akhter, Sayema Khatun, Saydia Gulrukh, and Rahnuma Ahmed.