BANGLADESH: Rape of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Munshiganj district 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the alleged raped of a 16-year-old girl belonging to a minority community by a young Muslim man in Basudia village, Munshiganj district on 1 November 2005.

The victim, Ms. X (name withheld), was on her way home after attending class at the Baliganon High School when the alleged perpetrator, M. Ibrahim Dewan (25), stopped her and forced her to a paddy field where she was allegedly raped. The perpetrator was a neighbor of the victim. After the incident, the victim was abandoned and sustained injuries to her genitalia. She was later rescued by two of her neighbors who saw her and took her home.

After the news of the victim’s alleged rape broke out, hundreds of outraged villagers and the victim’s fellow students went to M. Ibrahim Dewan’s house and took him to the Baligaon High School, where he was briefly held. The school officials then informed the police authorities and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) that they were holding Ibrahim the school premises. He was later turned over to the Lauhajang police station.

Although the police have charged Ibrahim for violation of section 9(1) of the Women and Child Repression Prevention (Revised) Act of 2003, the AHRC is concerned that the victim has not been afforded appropriate treatment for the trauma she suffered and appropriate protection. It was learned that the victim is forced to stay with her relatives for fear of her security and feeling of societal stigma. Her family is also in shock. None of these factors have been taken into consideration by the relevant authorities.

We urge your strong intervention to ensure that appropriate trauma treatment, medical assistance and protection are afforded to the victim. Please also urge the concerned authorities to ensure the speedy disposition of the victim’s case in court. The concerned government agencies must take steps to ensure that the victim can continue her education safely and without any discrimination.

Urgent Appeals programme
Asian Human Rights Commission

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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Ms. X (Name withheld), 16 years old, living in Basudia village, P.O. Baligaon, under Lauhajang police station in Munshiganj district
Name of alleged perpetrator: M. Ibrahim Dewan (25), son of M. Siddique Dewan, living in Basudia village, P.O. Baligaon, under Lauhajang police station in Munshiganj district
Date and place of incident: 1 November 2005 at a paddy field near the graveyard between Fulkachi and Basudia villages

Case details:

On 1 November 2005, at around 10am Ms X was on her way home to Basudia village after attending class at the Baligaon High School when the alleged perpetrator, M. Ibrahim Dewan, stopped her and forced her to a paddy field where she was allegedly raped. After the incident, Ibrahim left Ms X lying on the ground with severe genital bleeding, while Ibrahim was seen by two men – namely Baishrista (36) and Sattya Narayan (29) leaving from the location the two men later found the victim at. They then took her home.

When the news of the rape incident broke out, hundreds of outraged villagers and the fellow students of Ms X went to the perpetrator’s house. They then took Ibrahim to Baliganon High School where they briefly held him. The school officials later informed the police authorities and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) that they have detained Ibrahim for allegedly raping Ms X. Ibrahim was first taken to the Togi Bari police station but was then turned over to Lauhajang police.

On that same day, the Officer in Charge (OC) of the Lauhajang police station charged Ibrahim for violation of section 9(1) of the Women and Child Repression Prevention (Revised) Act of 2003. The Lowhajang police took Ms X for a forensic test at the Munshiganj Sadar Hospital. Ms. X was in police custody until the result of the forensic test was completed. She later gave her statement to the Magistrate regarding the incident under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr.PC).

The Investigating Officer of the Lauhajang police station, Sub Inspector Mr. M. Zahidul Haque, told the fact-finding team that they are working on the charge sheet of the case, which is based on Ibrahim’s confession and the result of the forensic test. The charge sheet would be submitted to the court in the coming days.

According to the latest information, Ms X is forced to stay at the house of her aunt’s place in Munshiganj Sadar Upazilla for her security. Ms X’s family and relatives have also suffered severe depression and social stigma following the incident.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

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