Families seeking justice under threat

We note with concern that the family of two school girls, murdered earlier this month in Madaripur, is being threatened and harassed by powerful quarters because the former is seeking justice for their daughters' deaths. On August 13, the two class eight students of Mostafapur Bahumukhi High School – Sumaiya Akhtar, 15, and Happy Akhtar, 14 – were allegedly killed after they were raped by their stalkers. A case was filed by Sumaiya's father against 14 people – seven named and seven unnamed persons – only three of whom have been arrested so far.  

If the untimely deaths of these two girls, in the prime of their lives, were not enough of a blow to their families, must they now live in fear and uncertainty in the face of continuous threats of eviction and physical harm from the suspects' patrons? According to a report by Bangla daily, Prothom Alo, Abdur Rob, president of the Awami League Madaripur sadar upazila committee as well as of the school's management committee, is apparently pressurising the families to refrain from pursuing the matter. Reportedly, he even discouraged the teachers of the school from holding demonstration on the school premises to demand justice for the girls' murders.  

It is an unfortunate reality in Bangladesh that perpetrators of horrendous crimes often get away because they have people in powerful positions backing them, while victims and their families have no choice but to either drop the cases or accept distorted police reports.
We urge the authorities in Madaripur to take stern action against those carrying out the threats, and ensure that the investigation is completed in an impartial and independent manner, such that, ultimately, justice is served.