According to a report by Kalbela, the incident took place on 5th August this year. The victim, who is a housewife by occupation, narrated that a mob of 30-35 men broke into her house at 7 pm and carried out vandalism.
The accused damaged doors and windows and took away a tin box, which contained cash, gold and necessary documents. Armed with sharp weapons, they took the woman behind a cowshed and coerced her into silence.
Mob involved in gang rape yet to be identified
The men then took turns to rape her. The victim could not identify her perpetrators since their faces were covered. At that time, her husband was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Khulna.
On learning about the incident of rape, he left the area and took the family away. The victim, her husband and children returned only on Tuesday (13th August) on the ‘assurance’ of local Jamaat leaders Dr Kamal and Ebadul.
The victim’s husband said that they have not been able to ascertain the identity of the rapists so far.
Police claim to have no idea
The officer-in-charge of Tala police station, Mominul Islam, claimed that the police have not been informed about the rape case.
He said that ‘necessary action’ would be taken after talking to the victim’s family and getting information about their name and address.
While speaking about the matter, Magura UP Chairman Ganesh Debnath remarked, “I have heard from the victims’ families and the neighbours. I will not be able to help unless the political situation is normal. So I am requesting journalists to stand by the victim’s family.”
Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
On 9th August, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad released a report detailing 205 instances of attacks on minority community members especially Hindus in the country’s 52 districts following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure on 5th August, reported The Daily Star.
The council made the statement in an open letter to Nobel laureate Economist Muhammad Yunus, who took the oath of office as the interim government’s chief adviser on 8th August. The letter was unveiled at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Nasrul Hamid Auditorium.
“We have preliminarily learned that at least 205 incidents of minority persecution have occurred in 52 districts so far. We seek protection because our lives are in a disastrous state. We are staying up at night guarding our homes and temples. I have never seen such incidents in my life. We demand that the government restore communal harmony in the country,” conveyed Nirmal Rosario, the organisation’s president.
In Satkhaira, minority shops were looted in Kolaroa, the house of Biswajit Sadhu, president of the District Unity Council was attacked, looted and burnt and the house of Dr Subrata Ghosh, central assistant organizational secretary of the Unity Council, was attacked and burnt.
