Dr Md Khalil Ullah, the superintendent of Noakhali General Hospital, gave the confirmation to our local correspondent this afternoon.
“The test report will be handed over to police today,” he said.
The woman who is a mother of four, was gang raped allegedly by 10-12 ruling party Awami League men on the midnight of election day.
News of her rape has rocked Bangladesh, sparking protests in Dhaka and elsewhere and drawn condemnations all over the social media.
RUHUL AMIN ARRESTED
Since the incident four days ago, five people have been arrested so far including the key accused and “the man who ordered the rape” Ruhul Amin.
In the early hours today, police in separate drives arrested two people including a local Awami League leader from Shenbagh and Sadarupazilas of Noakhali.
The arrestees are Ruhul Amin, former member of Charjubli union parishad and also publicity affairs secretary of Subarnachar unit of Awami League, and Ibrahim Khalil Bechu, said Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Char Jabbar Police Station.
OC Nizam said, “We made the arrest as we found Ruhul’s involvement with the rape incident though his name was not included in the case”.
Law enforcers arrest Ruhul Amin, publicity affairs secretary of Subarnachar unit of Awami League, and Ibrahim Khalil Bechu in connection with a rape incident in Noakhali on Thursday, January 3, 2019. Photo grabbed from a video footage.
Earlier, police arrested Badsha Alam from Charbajuli on Tuesday while prime accused Sohel from Cumilla district and Md Swapan from Ramgati upazila yesterday.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY?
The 35-year-old woman said some 10-12 men carrying sticks entered her home by cutting the surrounding fence after the midnight on December 31. They tied her CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver husband and four children with ropes.
“They took me outside and raped me,” she said adding that the rapists threatened to kill her husband and children and torch their house if she told anyone about the rape.
The victim's husband, who was also injured, said the criminals left around 4:00am after beating his wife unconscious and taking Tk 40,000, some gold ornaments and other valuables with them.
Soon after the alleged rapists left, the victim's husband and children cried for help. At this, the neighbours came and rescued them.”
“At first, a village doctor was called. But as she [the victim] was still bleeding, she was taken to Noakhali General Hospital at noon,” said one of the neighbours, wishing anonymity.
Shyamol Kumar Devnath, of the emergency department at the hospital, said they found evidence of rape. There were also injury marks on different parts of the body, he said.
The husband said the victim went to cast her vote at Char Jubilee-14 Government Primary School centre around 11:00am on Sunday. She took the ballot paper from the assistant presiding officer and went to a booth.
During that time, Ruhul, an Awami League man, allegedly insisted her to vote for the “boat”. He allegedly tried to snatch the ballot paper as she said she would vote for the “sheaf of paddy”. But the victim put the paper inside the box.
This made Ruhul furious and he threatened her, he said.
WHAT DID THE VICTIM SAY ABOUT REASON BEHIND THE INCIDENT?
The 35-year-old woman, who was being treated at Noakhali General Hospital with severe injuries, claimed that she was raped for voting for “sheaf of paddy”, the electoral symbol of the BNP, during Sunday's national polls.
The woman alleged the rapists were accomplices of Ruhul Amin. “They had repeatedly insisted that I should vote for boat [the AL's symbol] but I cast my ballot for 'sheaf of paddy',” she said.
Doctors have found evidence of rape in the woman who was gang-raped over not voting for ‘boat’ in Noakhali’s Subarnachar Upazila.
Dr Md Khalil Ullah, the superintendent of Noakhali General Hospital, gave the confirmation to our local correspondent this afternoon.
“The test report will be handed over to police today,” he said.
The woman who is a mother of four, was gang raped allegedly by 10-12 ruling party Awami League men on the midnight of election day.
News of her rape has rocked Bangladesh, sparking protests in Dhaka and elsewhere and drawn condemnations all over the social media.
RUHUL AMIN ARRESTED
Since the incident four days ago, five people have been arrested so far including the key accused and “the man who ordered the rape” Ruhul Amin.
In the early hours today, police in separate drives arrested two people including a local Awami League leader from Shenbagh and Sadarupazilas of Noakhali.
The arrestees are Ruhul Amin, former member of Charjubli union parishad and also publicity affairs secretary of Subarnachar unit of Awami League, and Ibrahim Khalil Bechu, said Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of Char Jabbar Police Station.
OC Nizam said, “We made the arrest as we found Ruhul’s involvement with the rape incident though his name was not included in the case”.
Law enforcers arrest Ruhul Amin, publicity affairs secretary of Subarnachar unit of Awami League, and Ibrahim Khalil Bechu in connection with a rape incident in Noakhali on Thursday, January 3, 2019. Photo grabbed from a video footage.
Earlier, police arrested Badsha Alam from Charbajuli on Tuesday while prime accused Sohel from Cumilla district and Md Swapan from Ramgati upazila yesterday.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY?
The 35-year-old woman said some 10-12 men carrying sticks entered her home by cutting the surrounding fence after the midnight on December 31. They tied her CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver husband and four children with ropes.
“They took me outside and raped me,” she said adding that the rapists threatened to kill her husband and children and torch their house if she told anyone about the rape.
The victim's husband, who was also injured, said the criminals left around 4:00am after beating his wife unconscious and taking Tk 40,000, some gold ornaments and other valuables with them.
Soon after the alleged rapists left, the victim's husband and children cried for help. At this, the neighbours came and rescued them.”
“At first, a village doctor was called. But as she [the victim] was still bleeding, she was taken to Noakhali General Hospital at noon,” said one of the neighbours, wishing anonymity.
Shyamol Kumar Devnath, of the emergency department at the hospital, said they found evidence of rape. There were also injury marks on different parts of the body, he said.
The husband said the victim went to cast her vote at Char Jubilee-14 Government Primary School centre around 11:00am on Sunday. She took the ballot paper from the assistant presiding officer and went to a booth.
During that time, Ruhul, an Awami League man, allegedly insisted her to vote for the “boat”. He allegedly tried to snatch the ballot paper as she said she would vote for the “sheaf of paddy”. But the victim put the paper inside the box.
This made Ruhul furious and he threatened her, he said.
WHAT DID THE VICTIM SAY ABOUT REASON BEHIND THE INCIDENT?
The 35-year-old woman, who was being treated at Noakhali General Hospital with severe injuries, claimed that she was raped for voting for “sheaf of paddy”, the electoral symbol of the BNP, during Sunday's national polls.
The woman alleged the rapists were accomplices of Ruhul Amin. “They had repeatedly insisted that I should vote for boat [the AL's symbol] but I cast my ballot for 'sheaf of paddy',” she said.
Related News
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Eight people were arrested in connection with two separate gangrape incidents in Bhola and Narayanganj.
In Bhola, coast guard members today arrested five people on charge of gang-raping a girl at char Fasson upazila, reports our Jhalakathi correspondent.
The arrestees, Yusuf Hasan Sardar (21), Sohel Rana Didar (20), Wasel Ahmed Sikder (22), Morshed Hang (35) and Rupom Fakir (20) were held from a trawler on a river near char Kukri-Mukri.
A coast guard team patrolling the river area conducted a raid in the early hours and not only arrested the five men, but also rescued the victim from the trawler, Alamgir Hossain, char Fasson contingent commander of Coast Guard’s South Zone was quoted as saying by our correspondent.
The girl also said the five men gangraped her twice.
A case was filed with Dakshin Aicha Police Station in this regard, said Milon Kumar Ghosh, officer-in-charge (investigation) of the station. Earlier, coast guard members handed over the men to local police.
The girl, who is a readymade garments worker in Dhaka, had returned to her home in the upazila due to her mother’s illness, the OC said quoting the case statement.
She had asked Sohel, one of the accused, for help regarding her mother’s treatment. He agreed and asked her to meet him at Dhakkin Aicha area. When she went there, Sohel and his friends took her on a trawler and raped her.
The five were produced before a court this evening, while the girl was sent for a medical test, the OC said.
In Narayanganj, police arrested three people in a case filed over a gangrape incident at Rupganj upazila.
The arrestees are Sahar Ali (30), Rakib alias Rocky (35), and Rakib’s wife Farzana Begum (25), reports our Narayanganj correspondent.
The victim and Farzana were friends, according to police. Last Wednesday, Farzana invited the victim to visit one of their relatives’ house. When she agreed, Farzana took her to a house in Masumabad area where Farzana’s husband Rakib, Sahar Ali and another man were present.
At one stage, Farzana left the scene. The trio then took turns to rape the girl, said Azhar Ali, inspector of Bhulta Police Outpost under Rupganj Police Station.
The girl later filed a complaint against the four people, following which three of the accused were arrested, while one is on the run.
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At the end of his two-day visit to Bangladesh, the UN human rights chief has sent a message that resonates in these challenging times: that justice must be fair, comprehensive, and aimed at breaking the cycle of violence that plagued the nation both before and after the ouster of the Awami League government. As Bangladesh initiates the process of establishing justice for those killed in the uprising, Volker Turk's emphasis on following due process and broadening the scope of justice to include victims of all killings and human rights violations is worth serious reflection in today's charged climate.
The importance of justice for the killings of protesters and innocent bystanders during the uprising cannot be overstated. At the same time, the post-August 5 period also witnessed significant retaliatory violence as well as mob justice which demand investigation, too. It's essential to avoid the trap of selective justice, where certain victims are overlooked and charges weaponised against certain others. Since the formation of the interim government on August 8, at least 1,695 murder cases related to the uprising have been filed, many targeting politicians and businesspeople linked to the former regime. Referring to the concerns about dubious and politically motivated cases, Turk said, "We cannot have the filing of cases on charges that are not properly done; it is therefore extremely important to resolve this and [that] there is a commission set up precisely to address this issue."
Turk also talked about other issues that deserve equal consideration, including compliance with international standards throughout the justice process, from investigation to trial to sentencing. The call for unbiased investigation is particularly relevant. Turk also proposed several measures that could prove pivotal in guiding Bangladesh towards stability and a more just society. He advocated for the UN Human Rights Office to set up a branch in Bangladesh to support the government in its reform drive. He called for the National Human Rights Commission to be independent and fully functional so that it can safeguard human rights more effectively. He also emphasised that women and minority groups should play a central role in the transition process.
All such proposals deserve careful consideration not only to foster national healing and reconciliation but also to prevent a repeat of the abuses that have fractured the nation for so long.
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The necessity that was felt a few days after the Declaration of Independence of Bangladesh was that of a Government which could take upon itself the burden of directing the liberation struggle. Because of the sudden attack and the resultant disorganisation, the Awami League leaders could not get together and work out the formation of such a government. Obviously, as the Awami League had received the mandate from the people, it was the party that could form the government. The necessity of the formation of the government was felt by everybody. The readers are aware that in its first broadcast over Swadhin Bangla Beter Kendra, Major Zia announced himself to be the President of the Revolutionary Government. Later on, he modified his announcement and declared that he was leading the armed struggle in the name and on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Mr. Zia's announcement only asserted the necessity of the formation of a government, but he and his colleagues did not obviously constitute the government.
I always had this belief that such a liberation struggle could not proceed in an organised manner if a top body like a government at the top did not guide the movement in a proper way. This is why I became extremely happy to know that a civilian government had been formed for Bangladesh.
We were sitting at Kishoreganj, like many others eagerly awaiting the formation of a government by the Awami League. Awami League leaders at Kishoreganj were quite vocal about it, and some of them even grew impatient over the issue. All of us were anxious since the movement could not be guided if political forces did not take the lead for proper organisation and confrontation. The directives could only come from the elected representatives. Moreover, the formation of a national government could enhance the prestige of the struggle and raise altogether different hopes in the minds of the people. The foreign powers could then be persuaded better. We felt all these and eagerly waited for the formation of the government.
When Major Safiullah reached Mymensingh and Kishoreganj, he also agreed with us that a government should immediately be formed. There was, at that time, a frantic search for some elderly politicians of the Awami League. Since nobody was sure about the fate of Sheikh, it became obvious that the only man who would be more suitable for the formation of a government was Syed Nazrul Islam, Vice President of the Awami League and the man next in command to the Sheikh. Syed Nazrul Islam happened to be from Kishoreganj P.S. itself and this is why Major Safiullah and all others put pressure on me to locate him so that he could take the initiative for forming a government. I must praise him for the foresight of Major Safiullah and others who rightly foresaw that the job of the armed personnel was simply to fight according to given directions. The directions could only come from a civilian government consisting of the elected representatives of the people.
Cover of the author’s book ‘The Turbulent 1971: My Diary’. It was published by Agamee Prakashani in 2020.
Throughout the beginning of the liberation struggle, one of my aims has thus been the location of Syed Nazrul Islam. The scanty news we used to get from Dhaka implied that Syed Nazrul Islam had fled from Dhaka. But nobody could give details about where he could be. On many occasions, Major Safiullah and Major Nazrul Islam used to inquire about it from Brahmanbaria over wireless. When a few days had passed they became very anxious and repeatedly requested me to locate Mr. Nazrul Islam.
Since Mr. Nazrul Islam's hometown was Kishoreganj, I was confident that he would have to come this way, even in hiding. This is what actually happened. It was possibly on the 6th or 7th of April that Mr. Mustafizur Rahman Khan had secretly approached me and told that Mr. Nazrul Islam was in hiding at the village home of his wife. Mr. Khan came to me with the request for transport and sufficient [sic] to cover Nazrul Islam's journey from Kishoreganj to Durgapur. Mr. Khan told me that Mr. Nazrul Islam was aware that all of us were in the freedom movement, he hesitated to come out in public because that could have many implications. From that day on, I knew the whereabouts and movements of Syed Nazrul Islam but I kept my promises in keeping this as top secret. The only information I gave was to Major Safiullah telling him that I had knowledge Mr. Nazrul Islam had proceeded towards the free zone. I told Major Safiullah that things were gradually broadening up and the formation of a national government was eminent.
Khashruzzaman Choudhury, 1967.
How Mr. Syed Nazrul Islam fled from Dhaka was an interesting story. While proceeding from Kishoreganj towards Durgapur, he was located 10 miles outside the town by my S.I., another Mr. Nazrul Islam. The S.I. was coming back after a survey of the area in the evening. From a distance, he could see that another jeep was coming from the opposite direction. As soon as Mr. Nazrul Islam's jeep saw the other jeep, its travel stopped and Mr. Nazrul Islam tried to hide to avoid identification. S. I. Nazrul disclosed the story to me on his return to Kishoreganj. He told me that soon he could understand that it was possibly Mr. Nazrul Islam who was in the other jeep. So, he cried out, giving his identity and requested them to come out from hiding. After repeated assurance, all of the passengers of the other jeep came out and Syed Nazrul Islam soon left towards Netrokona and Durgapur. He sent a message through S. I. Nazrul to me, thanking me for the cooperation I had extended to him. When I heard the story from Nazrul, I requested him to keep it as a secret and not to disclose it to anyone.
When Mr. Nazrul Islam could reach the free zone, the government was formed. It was possibly on the 10th of April that the All India Radio gave the news of the formation of a civilian government, announcing the names of the Ministers. I was sitting at the local police station when the Awami League Leaders rushed to that place with sweets even in those circumstances of trials and tribulations. All of us were really happy that after all, a government had been formed. I always had this belief that such a liberation struggle could not proceed in an organised manner if a top body like a government at the top did not guide the movement in a proper way. This is why I became extremely happy to know that a civilian government had been formed for Bangladesh.
The identity card of Khashruzzaman Choudhury, Deputy Secretary at the Home Ministry of the Mujibnagar Government, 1971.
The announcement of a government on the 10th of April was after consultation among different leaders of the Awami League. Later on, I came to know the whole story about the background of the government. Mr. Mustafizur Rahman Siddiqui and Zahur Ahmad Choudhury both from Chittagong Awami League escaped to Agartala. At Agartala, they used to sit in meetings discussing the formation of the government. It was after the arrival of Mr. Tajuddin that the talks were finalized and a tentative government was fixed up. Mr. Nazrul Islam's arrival was later, and even though he was absent, he was tipped as Vice President and Acting President in the absence of Sheikh Mujib.
Incidentally, it would be of interest to know that the parleys in this connection used to be held in the residence of one Mr. K. P. Datta, a Deputy Director of Education in the Tripura Government. I later met Mr. K. P. Datta at Agartala. Mr. K. P. Datta was originally from Sylhet District of Bangladesh. During my stay at Agartala, I had come in close contact with him. Mr. Datta used to narrate how all these began and how the ultimate decision of the formation of the government was taken up. Since I myself was from Sylhet, Mr. Datta and I could communicate in our native dialogue, and possibly because of this, we were very close to each other. Mr. Datta is an intelligent man whose wife is also in the education line. I had seldom come across such a nice man during that period. Mr. Datta used to tell me the story about the government. He told me that in his house there used to be sessions which used to last longer than midnight. It was after a lot of discussions, the final decision for the formation of the government was taken up.
Though the announcement of the government was on the 10th of April, it was on the 17th of April that the actual government was placed to the journalists, both foreign and Indian. Few people know that the 16th of April was fixed for the ceremony of swearing in of the government at Chuadanga. This could not be done because of heavy bombing from Pakistani planes and attacks on the towns by the Pakistan army. It is in this context that Baidyanathtala was selected for the ceremony on the 17th of April. I came to know about all of this from my friend Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chaudhury who was then SDO of Kushtia District, within the jurisdiction of which this Baidyanathtala was situated. The place was only a few miles from the Indian border. The journalists were taken there without any notice. The ceremony was simple but impressive. The Ministers were sworn in on the 17th of April, and the actual government started from that day.
Acting President Syed Nazrul Islam addressing attendees at the oath-taking ceremony of the Mujibnagar Government on April 17, 1971.
Captain Murari Ram of BSF told me a story about Syed Nazrul Islam. He told me that his friend Baljit Singh, another adjutant of BSF, one day received information that Syed Nazrul Islam was coming. None of them had seen Syed Nazrul Islam, but they had heard lots about him. They knew that he was an elderly man. Ultimately, the man who landed at Haluaghat was a young man who introduced himself as Nazrul Islam. Baljit Singh was the first, not in confusion, had told everybody Syed Nazrul Islam had come. When other officers of BSF went to meet him, after some time, they would find out that this was not Syed Nazrul Islam, but Professor Nazrul Islam Choudhury, an elected representative from Mymensingh District. The confusion was soon cleared. Captain Murari joked with me that when Syed Nazrul Islam actually arrived this time, Baljit Singh took precaution and started asking him a number of questions. This time the gentleman was none other than Syed Nazrul Islam himself, and possibly he became very confused at such a reaction from the BSF. When Baljit Singh became satisfied after a long time, he sent the message up to his senior officers that Syed Nazrul Islam had come. Captain Murari Ram jokingly told me that Baljit Singh had not first believed, even this time. There were queries from above about how this gentleman looked like and poor Baljit Singh had to talk to so many people, attempting to convince them that this time he had made no mistake and that the gentleman was really Syed Nazrul Islam. When all went to meet Syed Nazrul Islam, they found that he was really Syed Nazrul Islam, and quick arrangements were made for his movement from the border areas to another place where he could meet his other colleagues.
The S.P. Garo Hills, whom we met after coming over to Tura, was from Bihar. We had an interesting story to tell about Maulana Bhasani. As everybody knows, Maulana Bhasani had been hospitalized for bad health. On the 25th of March, Maulana Bhasani was at Mymensingh Medical College itself. Maulana was a clever man and he had his own source of information. This was evident when on the 26th the hospital staff and the doctors found that Maulana had disappeared from the hospital. When Maulana Bhasani entered India through Haluaghat, he was received at the border by the D.C. of Garo Hills, a Khasi gentleman named Mr. Cajee and S. P. Mr. Jha. The Maulana was driven away to Tura. Mr. Jha told me that when Maulana Bhasani sat with them at Tura, he started speaking a lot about massacres. He was all the time speaking against the Biharis who had committed a lot of crimes in Bangladesh. As Mr. Jha himself was from Bihar, he could not possibly join in the discussion in the same manner. When Bhasani saw that Mr. Jha did not sound as enthusiastic, he wondered what might have happened to Mr. Cajee. D.C. had been smiling all through. The Maulana was at his wit's end when Mr. Cajee told him that Bhasani was describing things to a person who was himself a Bihari. Mr. Jha told me later that as long as Maulana Bhasani stayed at Tura, he used to refer to this incident and cut jokes with Mr. Jha telling him that he was a Bihari and thus at the side of the Pakistani.
This article is an excerpt from the author's book "The Turbulent 1971: My Diary" (2020).
Dr. Khashruzzaman Choudhury joined the Liberation War while serving as a Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). He involved himself with the Mujibnagar Government as Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. Later, he served as a Professor of Economics in the USA. Khashruzzaman Choudhury was honored with the highest civilian award, the 'Swadhinata Padak,' in 2014 for his contribution to the Liberation War.
Tania, who worked at Ibne Sina Hospital’s Kalyanpur branch in Dhaka, died on her way home by a bus in Kishoreganj’s Katiadi upazila on Monday night.
The post mortem conducted at Kishoreganj General Hospital yesterday found injury marks at nose, neck, legs and hands, Dr Md Habibur Rahman, civil surgeon of Kishoreganj, told our Mymensingh correspondent.
The injury marks bore the signs of serious scuffle and there was a fracture in her head’s back side and her skull was also broken, said the civil surgeon.
“The profuse bleeding in her head might be the cause for which she succumbed to her injuries,” suggested the civil surgeon.
The forensic doctors also found bleeding in the victim’s private parts, said the civil surgeon quoting the doctors.
THREE MORE PEOPLE HELD
Five people including the bus driver Md Nuruzzaman and its helper Lalon Mia were held by police for their alleged involvement in the rape and murder of Shahinoor Akter Tania. Photo: Collected
Police today arrested three more persons for their alleged involvement in the incident, said Khalilur Rahman Patwari, officer-in-charge of Bajitpur Police Station.
Earlier, the law enforcers arrested bus driver Md Nuruzzaman, 39, and its helper Lalon Mia, 33, yesterday.
All of the accused were produced before a Kishoreganj court with a 10-day remand prayer today, but the court granted a remand for eight days each, said Taufiq Ahmed, court inspector of Kishoreganj.
The victim’s father lodged a murder and rape case with the Bajitpur Police Station naming four including the driver and helper and some unknown persons Tuesday night.
TRANSPORT LEADERS DEMAND JUSTICE
The leaders of Bangladesh Sarok Paribahan Sramik Federation today expressed grave concern over the death of Tania and demanded justice for her.
The president and general secretary of the federation issued a statement demanding exemplary punishment of the culprits.
They also expressed solidarity with the family of the victim.
WHAT HAPPENED TO TANIA
Tania boarded a Swarnalata Paribahan bus from the capital’s Mohakhali to go to her home in Lohajury in Katiadi around 3:00pm on Monday.
On her way, she spoke with her father and brother Sujan Mia several times on the phone. The bus reached Katiadi around 8:00pm where 16 of the 19 passengers got down. Two others got down at Ujanchar, said Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Katiadi Police Station, quoting family members.
From that point on, she was the only passenger as the bus headed towards Pirijpur, from where her home is some 10 minutes’ rickshaw ride, police and family members said.
Meanwhile, her family was waiting for her. She had called Sujan upon reaching Katiadi, saying she would reach Pirijpur shortly.
When more than an hour passed, the family members called her but found her phone switched off. Anxious, they then rushed to the Pirijpur bus station, but learned that no Swarnalata Paribahan bus reached the station around that time.
Later around 11:00pm, they received a call from the Katiadi Upazila Health Complex and the caller said that Tania died.
Resident Medical Officer Tajnina Toiyyab told The Daily Star that Tania had died before she was taken to the hospital.
During primary interrogation, the driver and helper claimed the woman jumped off the running bus through the window and died, although they could not explain why she would do that, police said.
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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday alleged that people's voting rights were snatched again during the December 30 parliamentary polls.
“And through snatching this voting rights, the Awami League and the administration have completely become public enemy,” he said.
The BNP leader was talking to reporters in Cumilla on his way to Noakhali to visit the Subarnochar woman who was allegedly gang-raped after the election early on December 31.
Fakhrul said an “anarchic and terrifying” situation has been created all over the country due to violent incidents ahead of the polls, on the voting day and afterwards.
Condemning the rape incident and other polls-related violence, he called upon the people to stand against such incidents.
Fakhrul also said his party has already informed the authorities concerned, especially the Election Commission, about the role they should play to bring an end to violence.
“We are calling upon the authorities concerned to stop this violence completely,” he added.
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