Noakhali gang-rape a shame for the nation: Dr Kamal

Dhaka, Jan 4 – Expressing deep concern over the gang-rape of a woman in Subarnachar Upazila of Noakhali, Jatiya Oikya Front chief and Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain on Friday said it has belittled all as a nation.“The incident has belittled us as a nation. Such an incident can’t be imagined in a democratic country. The incident has put the democratic rights, basic rights and the freedom of expression into jeopardy,” he said in a statement.
Dr Kamal also said, “This shame is not only of the victim but also of the entire nation. Not only the victim was tortured through the incident, but also our democracy and basic rights were humiliated.”
He expressed his resentment at the drop of the name of the person who ordered the gang-rape and demanded that those involved in the incident be brought to book immediately.
The Oikyafront chief alleged that ruling Awami League ‘terrorists’ threatened the woman with dire consequences after she cast her vote for the candidate of her choice defying their order.
He further alleged that the government has apparently helped the criminals flee trying to hush up the incident.
Dr Kamal also said the country’s people will have to take initiatives to prevent such incidents.
According to the victim’s husband, a group of hoodlums stormed into their house in the early hours of Monday and tied up all the family members except his wife.
They took the woman outside the house at gunpoint where they violated her in turns, the victim’s husband claimed.
After the rape, they also threatened the victim not to disclose the matter to anyone, saying they would kill her if otherwise, he said.
With the help of neighbours, the victim was taken to hospital on Monday noon and a case was filed against nine people over the incident.
Local MP announces to take responsibility for the victim’s treatment, rehabilitation
Two more people were arrested from Chattogram on Friday over the gang rape of a woman at Charjubli of Subarnachar Upazila after the general election.
The arrestees were identified as Hasan Ali Bulu, 60, an associate of Subarnachar Upazila unit Awami League publicity secretary and mastermind of the incident Ruhul Amin, and Jasim Uddin, 30, son of Motaher Hossain of Bagga village here.
Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Charjabbar Police Station, said police arrested Hasan Ali from Madarbari of Chattogram city and Jasim from Nazirhat in Fatikchhari of Chattogram district in the early hours.
Bulu allegedly hired miscreants at Tk 10,000 for committing the gang rape, according to police.
With this, seven people have so far been arrested in connection with the gang rape of the woman.
On Thursday, detectives in their separate drives arrested Ruhul Amin, also a former member of Charjubli union Parishad, and Bechu Miah in the early hours over the incident.
A team of Detective Branch (DB) arrested Ruhul Amin from a poultry farm in Sadar Upazila while Bechu Mia from a brick kiln in Senbagh Upazila, the SP said.
Earlier, police arrested Badshah Alam from Charbajuli on Tuesday while prime accused Sohel from Comilla district and Md Swapan from Laxmipur district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, local MP and district AL general secretary Ekramul Karim Chowdhury on Friday announced to take the responsibility of treatment, legal aid and rehabilitation of the victim.
On behalf of the MP, an AL team went to Noakhali General Hospital in the afternoon to visit the victim and made the announcement.
According to the victim’s husband, a group of hoodlums stormed their house in the early hours of Monday and tied up all the family members except his wife.
They took the woman outside the house at gunpoint where they violated her in turns, the victim’s husband said.
After the rape, they also threatened the victim not to disclose the matter to anyone, saying they would kill her if otherwise, he said.
With the help of neighbours, the victim was taken to hospital on Monday noon and a case was filed against nine people over the incident.