Gaibandha Jail authority accused of stripping and torturing female prisoners



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Gaibandha
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Inside the Gaibandha District Jail, a female inmate was allegedly tortured by a prison guard after she stripped another woman of her clothes and tied her hands and feet for 'seeing illegal activities'. In order to keep the incident a secret, threats of death and disgrace are being given. The incident is being investigated after the complaint.

The victim is an under trail prisoner (UTP), 34 of Chou Pukuria village of Birganj upazila of Dinajpur district. She has been in Gaibandha jail for almost 5 years in a drug case.

Describing the horrific incident inside the Gaibandha District Jail, the mother of the victim utp has filed a written complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Gaibandha to take better medical care, necessary measures to save life and dignity and to take legal action against the torturers. A copy of that complaint has been received by Barta24.com.

The accused in the incident are Gaibandha Jail Chief Warden (Subedar) Ashraful Islam and female inmate Meghla Khatun. Apart from this, the other accused are female prisoners Rehena and Alefah. Prison guards Tahmina, Shabana, CID Anees and Habildar Mustafa.

In the complaint given to the Deputy Commissioner on April 16, it is mentioned that UTP (34) has been in Gaibandha District Jail for almost 5 years in a case. A few days ago, during his stay in the jail, Subedar Ashraful Islam, who was working in Gaibandha District Jail, "saw illegal activities" between another female inmate. Because of this, Subedar Ashraful and the female inmate became angry with the victim and if she told anyone about the incident, they started showing fear and threats that she would be killed by suicide or died of heart attack inside the prison. It is alleged that the victim UTP repeatedly told them (Subedar Ashraful and the female inmate) not to tell anyone about the incident, but Subedar Ashraful and the female inmate were allegedly mentally torturing the victim in various ways inside the jail.

Apart from this, Subedar Ashraful tried to molest the victim several times by pulling her hands and her clothes, teasing her with bad proposals on different dates and times to hold her hostage. After failing to fulfill the wishes of Subedar Ashraful despite various temptations, her associates called the victim UTP’s husband to Gaibandha Jail. It is mentioned in the complaint that the accused broke up the family of the victim UTP by giving false and offensive information against her.

When the victim Hajti informed the Jail Superintendent about these incidents, Subedar Ashraful claimed that the Jailer is his man, he (Subedar) has transferred the Jailer to this jail by spending his own money. The district showed intimidation and threats claiming that he (Subedar) could not be prosecuted. At one point in the afternoon of March 20 this year, under the leadership of Subedar Ashraful, women prisoners Meghla Khatun, Rehena, Alefah and prison guards Tahmina and Sabana systematically beat Seema with sticks on her head, waist, chest, back, knees of both legs and other parts of her body in the inner balcony of the women's unit of the district jail. . Female inmate Meghla allegedly bit the victim's right arm and tore off the flesh.

Not only that, Subedar Ashraful, CID Anis and Habildar Mostafa gong entered the women's unit of the jail, dragged the victim out from the balcony of the women's unit, took her inside the cell, put on handcuffs and tied both her legs with a rope and stripped her naked with a stick on the sensitive parts of her body (two thighs). ), began to beat on the feet. At that time, the torturers threatened once again that if any of these incidents were revealed outside the prison, the victim UTP would be beaten to death and claimed to have died of a heart attack.

The complaint also mentioned that the mother of the victim UTP went to Gaibandha Jail several times to meet her daughter but was not allowed to meet her daughter. Finally, when the victim went to the court on the date of court appearance, the mother met the daughter. On that day, the victim UTP gave a harrowing account of the incident to the mother and showed the marks of injuries on various parts of the body.

When asked about these allegations, Ashraful Islam, the alleged chief Warden of Gaibandha District Jail, told Barta24.com on mobile phone, "I am not involved in the matter." I don't know why my name is coming up. The incident was a month ago. He claimed that the incident was during the duty of Mustafa, another chief Warden here. But I don't know why my name is there.

Barta24.com could not get his statement even though the current prison guard mentioned the name of the previous chief prison guard, Mustafa.

When asked about the complaint, the other accused female prison guard Tahmina Akhtar told Barta24.com on mobile phone that the complaint is completely false. Allegations have been made stating the opposite of what happened that day. At that time, he claimed that this prisoner made these false allegations with the help of a female prison guard named Arefin and her husband.

Besides, this prisoner is accused in several cases and in most cases there are several complaints and cases against him for raising hands on the administration. Jailer Tahmina also claimed that a woman named Shabana raised her hand on the Jailer on the day of the incident.

Javed Mehdi, Jail superintendent of Gaibandha prison, told Barta24.com that the ADM came to investigate yesterday. A report is being prepared against everyone involved in the incident.

In response to a question, he said that a matter has arisen between the parties and the opposition regarding the inside of the prison which cannot be said over the phone. However, action is being taken against everyone involved in the incident.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Md. Moshiur Rahman told Barta24.com that I investigated the matter after receiving the complaint. I will submit the investigation report to the Deputy Commissioner very soon. After that, the District Administration will take necessary action against those involved.

   

Case filed for trafficking Chakma girl to China



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Rangamati
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The victim's sister approached the police stating that Pahari Chakma picked up the girl and detained her in the capital and tried to smuggle her to China. On Wednesday (May 1) afternoon, a case was filed under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act at Naniarchar police station in Rangamati with a request to rescue the girl.

In this case, four women traffickers and four male traffickers have been named as a total of eight people and 4/5 others have been named as accused. Nanyarchar police confirmed the case to the reporter. The police said that they are unable to give the details of the accused for the sake of investigation.

In the statement of the case, the victim's sister mentioned that her younger sister, 21-year-old Beauty Chakma (pseudonym), was taken to Dhaka on April 1 in the name of admitting her to nursing. First, she was taken out of her home in Garjantali village of Burighat union under Naniarchar police station of Rangamati and taken to Jurachari Benuban area of Ghilachari union of Naniarchar. Later, she was taken from there to Dhaka in a microbus.

In the statement of the case, the plaintiff mentioned that beauty Chakma, who is studying nursing, realized that she was in the clutches of women traffickers from the conversation of the accused while going to the microbus.

Proposing the case, the girl's elder sister said that a group of women traffickers led by one Rika Chakma forced Beauty into marriage with a Chinese national and also took offensive pictures with her. She can be smuggled to China at any time from her detention in an undisclosed location in the capital.

On April 7, Beauty told her elder sister this information on the phone and told her to rescue her. The elder sister of the victim filed a case of human trafficking after informing the Naniarchar Police Station in written form.

Azamuddin Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Naniarchar police station confirmed the fact of filing the case and told the reporter that based on the written complaint of the victim's sister, a case has been registered under section 6/7/8 of Human Trafficking and Prevention Act 2018. Case No-1 Date: 01/05/2024 Eng. Necessary action will be taken after investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, Rangamati Additional Superintendent of Police Maruf Ahmed said that the local administration was shaken by the news of the trafficking of mountain women from Chattogram Hill Tracts to China. Rangamati police have already started to catch the members of the trafficking ring.

In response to the reporter's question, he said that the matter of trafficking of women from the mountains to China has come to the attention of Rangamati police in the media recently. The Additional Superintendent of Police also said that the matter is very sensitive and the police is diligently investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, according to the source of the case, it is known that the mastermind behind the trafficking of the mountain Chakma girl to China is a Chakma woman named Rika Chakma living in sector 14 of Dhaka Uttara. Her house is in Rangapani Harma village under Dighinala upazila of Khagrachari district. In this case, one man and one woman from Kamarpara of Sapchari Union under Rangamati Sadar Upazila, two women from Udal Bagan area of Khagrachari, and two men of unknown address have been mentioned in the case statement.

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Woman worker killed by her husband on Labor Day



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Savar(Dhaka)
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The police have arrested the husband of a garment worker in connection with the death of his wife due to a family dispute in Savar's Ashulia on May Day. The police recovered the body of the deceased and sent it for post-mortem.

On Wednesday (May 1) evening, the police recovered the body of the victim from Ashulia Women and Children's Hospital.

Deceased Maina Begum (60) lived in a rented house with her family in North Ghazirachat area of Ashulia. She worked as a cleaner in a local Grameen knitwear garment factory.

Arrested husband Taimur Rahman (65) is a day laborer by profession. Their village home is in Nirapara village of Niamatpur police station in Naogoan district.

Citing the victim's family, the police said that in the afternoon, due to a family quarrel, Maina Begum was beaten up by her husband. Later, when she was taken to the hospital with injuries, the doctor on duty declared her dead. The police also said that the body of the deceased had the marks of punch injuries.

Sub- Inspector (SI) of Ashulia police station Badiuzzaman told Barta 24.com that the dead body has been recovered and sent for autopsy. There was a quarrel between them due to the financial crisis in the family. The process of filing a case is ongoing with the victim's family as the plaintiff.

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The coolies rush to the platform as the train's whistle sounds



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Rajshahi
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Rajshahi Railway Station. which has become the heart of daily life for many. Here Ghulam Mustafa, Afzal, Sharif, Kamal and about 40 coolies run with different trains every day. Their job is to carry passengers' heavy luggage. At the sound of the train's whistle, they ran to the platform, in one breath.

Their competition begins to see who can get into the train compartment first. Who can lift the goods in his troly first. They stand in front of the train and ask the passengers to carry the goods. Their lives have been going on like this for ages, months after months.

Not only at Rajshahi railway station; This image is seen in medium to large railway stations almost all over the country.

This daily rush is not only a part of their professional life, but it is an essential part of their family life.

The workers said that with the increase in the price of goods, their income is not increasing. The income is three to four hundred takas a day. But; It costs 500 to 600 taka. It is running out of water to bring salt. But they are happy to earn in halal way even with low income.

Golam Mostafa, who has been involved in this profession for the past 45 years, said that our daily run is actually a struggle for bread and sustenance for our family. A train is a symbol of our hope.

These porters not only carry the luggage but also provide a reliable support to the passengers. The scope of work of these employees of Rajshahi station is wide ranging from arrival to departure of trains. Another worker (coolie) named Afzal said, We develop a bond with each passenger, which in some cases gets stronger with time.

Another worker Kamal said, the risk in this profession is not less; we carry heavy baggage every day, which puts a strain on our physical health. But this work for family is essential for us.

This daily scene at Rajshahi railway station is not just a picture of a platform; it is a familiar scene at many railway stations in Bangladesh, where coolies like Golam Mostafa go out of their way to serve passengers every day.

These regular scenes at Rajshahi railway station are similar to other railway stations in Bangladesh, where coolies are fighting for their families every day. Their life and professional responsibilities are like a mocking challenge, which they need not only for financial security, but also for their contribution as part of a society.

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"The poor have no hot or cold, what will they eat if they don't work"



Gulshan Jahan Sarika, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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People's life has been disturbed by the intense heat wave that is sweeping over the country. Everyone, young and old, is short of breath in the intense heat. Although no one goes out of the house except for urgent needs, the workers are working in such heat because of their stomachs. One of them is Anjura Begum, who is fifty years old.

Anjura Begum, who works as a mason in the scorching heat, told Barta24.com that her entire family is supported by her earnings alone. Even though she cannot work for a long time due to her age, she continues to work hard while looking after her family.

If you work in the hot sun for a long time, you will get sick. She said, the poor do not have hot and cold, what will they eat if they do not work? I have to run the family with the money that I earn from daily wages.

She also said, I don't have energy like before, but because of my stomach I have to go out every day in search of work. When there is work, food comes, if not, you have to starve.

She lamented that it is difficult to work due to age. People don't even want to employ her because of her age. Even if you go for old age pension, you will not get government pension because you are not yet old. If she does not come to work, the stove does not burn. It is very difficult to run a family with the money you get as a daily wage.

Anjura Begum, who lost everything and came from Shyamnagar in Satkhira, said that her husband used to work in fishing and collecting honey in the Sundarbans. They had their own houses and cultivated land. But in the happy life, sadness came in the flood of 2000. The river dam broke and the house was washed away in one night. Destitute, she took her husband's hand with her two little daughters and moved to Satkhira town. There, the two started working as day laborers to run the family from a rented house. After a few years, the husband fell ill. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then pregnant Anjura Begum fell on the stone.

After selling everything that was in the village, she treated her husband with a sigh and said that her husband died in 2013 after a few months of the birth of her little girl in poverty. A well-to-do family offers accommodation in exchange for domestic work. She turned grief into strength to run the family in the pursuit of livelihood and started working as a laborer.

Anjura Begum said, we do not work less than men. Yet our women workers are being paid less than men. Why are we discriminated against?

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