'Bring Kansat culprits to book'

Members of the law enforcement agencies and local BNP workers attacked the people of Kansat in Chapainawabganj as they had been demonstrating for uninterrupted power supply since January.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP) organised the discussion with civil society members at Dhaka Reporters' Unity office.

The BMP leaders said that during their visit to Kansat on April 24, they found that many women fell victim to repression by the law enforcers but most such incidents went unreported.

Even a number of women were sexually abused and the children were also not spared from the attack by law enforcers, they said.

Shahriar Kabir of the Forum for Secular Bangladesh said the names of abused women should also be on the list for compensation alongside the names of those killed or injured in the attacks.

Violence against women across the country has been increasing as the attackers know they would go unpunished as the families of the victims as well as the administration always try to cover up such incidents, he said and called for taking stern action against the culprits to curb repression on women.

He also said that properties of the policemen and other officials who are responsible for killings and repression should be confiscated and they should pay compensation to the victims.

Jahangir Alam Akash, general secretary of Rajshahi Union of Journalists, said the main demands of the people of Kansat are yet to be met although an agreement has been signed between Kansat movement leader Golam Rabbani and the authorities.

People of Kansat want proper investigation into police atrocities and punishment to the attackers who tortured them brutally and looted their valuables, he added.

The speakers called on the government to pay compensation to the victims, make the law enforcement agencies and administration free from politicisation and not to harbour criminals.

They also urged the human rights organisations to provide legal aid to the women victims.

Presided over by Mahila Parishad President Hena Das, the meeting was also addressed by Masuda Rehana Begum and Maleka Banu of the Parishad, General Secretary of Sammilita Samajik Andolon Tobarok Hossain, Convenor of Muktijuddho Projonmo Mehedi Hasan, Advocate Harisadhan Dev Barman, Advocate Jeyad Al Malum and Advocate SMA Sabur.