URGENT APPEAL:Bangladesh: A 15-year old indigenous girl gang-raped

Date: 1-3-2010,

The Hague, The Netherlands

URGENT APPEAL: Bangladesh: A 15-year old indigenous girl gang-raped [UA-BA-01.03.2010]

                                                                                     

ISSUES:  Rights of minorities, personal integrity, abduction; gang-rape

Dear Friends,

Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) is very concerned regarding the news we received from the Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) about the gang-rape of an indigenous 15-year old girl.

The girl was abducted outside of her home, on the 26th of February, by five local Bengali leaders at Bandra village in Moddhonagar police station under Sunamgong district, according to their investigation. The girl was taken to a nearby river where she was repeatedly raped until she became unconscious. When she was found later that evening she was still unconscious. On the 27th February the girl’s family tried to lodge a complaint against the perpetrators at Moddhonagar Police station, but the officer in charge refused to file it. However, later with the help of a community leader, they managed to file a complaint and a case was registered against the five perpetrators, on the 27th February. Until this date none of the perpetrators have been arrested and the girl and her family are now being threatened to withdraw the case by a local influential Bengali community leader. When BIHR spoke to the local Officer in Charge he said that there was no incident regarding the rape of a Hazong girl since no case had been filed under his jurisdiction. He also refused to give any additional information regarding the incident.

GHRD is deeply concerned about the continuous and widespread violence against women and children, in particular minority and indigenous women, that prevails in Bangladesh. We have also observed with concern that there is a high level of impunity for these crimes in the country.

Suggested Action

GHRD strongly urges the Bangladeshi authorities to follow-up in the investigation of this case and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The victim must receive the necessary legal assistance and adequate compensation for the damages caused.

 

In order to help, please print the following sample letter and send it to the relevant authorities found below.

Sample letter:

Dear ___________,

Bangladesh: A 15-year old indigenous girl gang-raped

I am deeply concerned with the news received from Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) and Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) regarding the gang-rape of an indigenous 15-year old girl.

I am told that the girl was abducted outside of her home, on the 26th of February, by five local Bengali leaders at Bandra village in Moddhonagar police station under Sunamgong district, according to their investigation. The girl was taken to a nearby river where she was repeatedly raped until she became unconscious. When she was found later that evening she was still unconscious.

According to information received by GHRD from local organizations, on the 27th February the girl’s family tried to lodge a complaint against the perpetrators at Moddhonagar Police station, but the officer in charge refused to file it. However, later with the help of a community leader, they managed to file a complaint and a case was registered against the five perpetrators, on the 27th February. Until this date none of the perpetrators have been arrested and the girl and her family are now being threatened to withdraw the case by a local influential Bengali community leader.   

I was also informed that when BIHR -GHRD's partner organization in Bangladesh- spoke to the local Officer in Charge he said that there was no incident regarding the rape of a Hazong girl since no case had been filed under his jurisdiction. He also refused to give any additional information regarding the incident.

I strongly urge the local police authorities to follow-up on the investigation of this case and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The victim must receive necessary legal assistance and adequate compensation for the damages caused.

I trust that you will take immediate action on this serious matter.

Yours sincerely,

-----------------------------

In order to help, please write to the authorities listed below: 

1. Mrs. Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Prime Minister
Tejgaon, Dhaka
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 811 3244 / 3243 / 1015 / 1490
Tel: +880 2 882 816 079 / 988 8677
E-mail: pm@pmo.gov.bd or ps1topm@pmo.gov.bd or psecy@pmo.gov.bd

2. Mr. Justice Md.Tafazzal Islam
Chief Justice
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Supreme Court Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 5058
Tel: +880 2 956 2792

3. Barrister Shafique Ahmed
Minister
Ministry of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7160627
Fax: +880 2 7168557

4. Ms. Sahara Khatun MP
Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Tel: +880 2 7169069
Fax: +880 2 7160405, 880 2 7164788

5. Mr. Mahbubey Alam
Attorney General of Bangladesh
Office of the Attorney General
Supreme Court Annex Building
Ramna, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 1568
Tel: +880 2 956 2868

6. Mr. Nur Mohammad
Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Bangladesh Police
Police Headquarters'
Fulbaria, Dhaka-1000
BANGLADESH
Fax: +880 2 956 3362 / 956 3363
Tel: +880 2 956 2054 / 717 6451 / 717 6677
E-mail: ig@police.gov.bd

Please send us a copy of any action that has been taken distributing our message, and a copy of any responses received.

Thank you.

This message has been sent by GHRD* to local authorities and International Organisations in order to spread the message, increase awareness, and encourage action be taken to bring perpetrators of human rights violations to justice.

Global Human Rights Defence  

Urgent Appeals Desk

Laan van Meerdervoort 70

2517 AN The Hague

The Netherlands

+31(0)070 3456975

+31(0)703926575

urgentappeals@ghrd.org

www.ghrd.org