mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com

Dear Mukto-monas,

Remember the unfortunate girl named Shilpi Chakravorty, daughter of a
Brahmin priest Babu Shyamal Chaktavorty of a remote village Arua under Ps
Shibalay, district Manikganj. The girl was gang raped on 28th April, 2003 by
a group of local ‘thangare bahini’ of local BNP leader. Apart from being
molested she was also severely beaten and physically tortured along with her
father, mother and other inmates. We visited the place along with some local
humanist leaders of Manikganj town on 14th May. We interviewed the victim
girls and her parents and spent there more than 3 hours talking to local
people, the OC of Shibaloy police station, and an energetic young man. He
promised us that he would his best to round up the culprits involved and
their mdatdatas. On our way to village Arua, we talked to ASP & other
officers at Mankiganj SP office, as the SP was way at that time. We urged
upon the ASP to take good care of the case so that culprits could not escape
from the long hand of justice.

Subsequently a case was filed and it was transfered to rapid trial court at
Dhaka. After prolong trial the judgment was declared on 15th September. The
learned judge pronounced lifetime imprisonment to four accused namely, Akkas
Ali alias Aku Gazi, Shahadat Hosen Khadu, Lutfar Rahman, and Mannan plus a
fine of Tk 20,000/ each. The later two accused are absconding.

We monitored the case through Ain O Salis Kendra, Mahila Parisad and
Bangladesh Legal Aid Services (BLAST) who provided legal aids for the case.
Advocate Sabur and Ila Chanda helped the prosecution very forcefully.
Advocate Tahmina Begum conducted the defence, whereas prosecution was led by
the special pp Mr. Nurul Islam.

Only weakness of the case was the police-failure of uncovering the men
behind the incident who planned the whole scheme to grab the property of the
helpless priest by forcible eviction of the family, who belong to a minority
community. It is not however expected of police in Bangladesh context as
police administration cannot work independently and judicially, even it
wishes, because of political interference from the parties in power. Unless
the entire police service is motivated in proper way inducing in the system
the necessary courage to work independently, the fair justice will remain a
far cry for common men like us. For this precise reason Rabindranath said
“Bicharer Bani Nirabe Nivrite Kande. … “

The family however showed remarkable courage to face all kind of threats
from the interested circles and resisted allurement of hand some money, and
withstood local BNP brand political pressure. We stood behind the wretched
girl, come what may.

For detail of the event kindly see attached document, which I posted to MM
some time in May, 2003.

Ajoy Roy
Dhaka
21. 09. 04

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