Different left political parties, National Human Rights Commission and different rights organisations on Tuesday condemned rape of a 35-year woman allegedly by ruling Awami League activists in Noakhali for voting Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the Sunday’s general election.
They also demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the rapists.Different media, quoting the victim, reported on Tuesday that the rapists asked her to cast vote for the ruling Awami League in Sunday’s election at Pankhar Bazaar Government Primary School polling station under Subarnachar upazila in Noakhali.
As she cast vote for BNP, they warned her of dire consequences.On early Monday, the rapists knocked her door identifying themselves as police and, as the victim’s husband opened the door, a group of 10-12 people stormed into the room, tied her husband and four children and took her away.
The woman was raped, beaten and left abandoned in her yard after over two hours and she, with the help of locals, was admitted to Noakhali General Hospital, the victim alleged.
She alleged that the rapists were accomplices of local Awami League leader Ruhul Amin, also a former member of Char Jubilee union parishad.
Char Jabbar police station officer-in-charge Nizam Uddin told New Age that the victim’s husband lodged a case with the police station Monday evening and they arrested one of the suspects, Badsha Alam.
He said that they were investigating whether the victim’s allegation was correct or she was raped for previous enmity.
The National Human Rights Commission, in a statement, said that the commission formed a three-member fact-finding committee led its director Al-Mahmud Fayjul Kabir and the commission chairman asked the Noakhali deputy commissioner to take immediate steps.
A civic group, ‘Desher Malikana Fire Pete Sangramrata Janagan’ held a rally and brought out a procession in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka Tuesday afternoon protesting at the rape.
Left Democratic Alliance central coordinator Mohammad Shah Alam in a statement condemned the rape and demanded arrest and exemplary punishment of the rapists and attackers.He also sought responsible behaviour from the law enforcement agencies, all the political parties and conscious people so that no violence could happen centring the elections.
Making same demand, rights organisations Ain o Salish Kendra and Human Rights Forum Bangladesh in statements said that every citizen had constitutional and political right to cast vote for his/her candidate of choice.
They said that such a heinous act should not be patronised by any party.Bangladesh Mahila Parishad demanded proper treatment and security of the victim and her family.
In a statement, Nari Pokkho also condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the rapists.
GY
