Socio-political organisations and citizens on Tuesday continued to protest against the rape of a Marma girl in Khagrachari and subsequent eruption of violence killing at least three national minority people there.
They demanded fair investigations into the rape and attacks and justice for the victims.
Three national minority community people were killed and several dozens, including security personnel, were injured and at least 100 shops, houses and vehicles, mostly owned by national minority individuals, were set on fire during the violence in Khagrachari on September 28 amid a road blockade there protesting at the rape of the 12-year-old Marma girl.
Three Bengali youths allegedly perpetrated the rape against the girl while she was returning home from tuition in Khagrachari鈥檚 Singinala on September 23.
In protest, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Tuesday afternoon formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital, demanding justice for the rape, the attack and killing of protesters.
Addressing the human chain, the rights organisation鈥檚 president Fauzia Moslem said that shooting to quell the demands for justice for rape was unprecedented in this country.
鈥業t is not only a violation of human rights, but also an obstacle to demanding and obtaining justice,鈥� she said.
Organisation general secretary Maleka Banu demanded fair investigation into the incidents and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh held a rally and brought out a procession in the capital鈥檚 Paltan area while the Left Democratic Alliance, a combine of six political parties, and the Anti-Fascist Left Alliance, a combine of seven leftist parties, jointly held a rally in front of the National Press Club protesting against the same incidents.
The Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord Implementation Movement also held a protest rally in the afternoon in front of the Bangladesh National Museum in the capital鈥檚 Shahbagh area, demanding the perpetrators鈥� trial and stern punishment.
Speakers of the programme also demanded that the government must take immediate steps to implement the CHT accord fully to solve the crisis in the three hill districts.
A group of 41 citizens comprising, among others, rights activists, journalists, university teachers, lawyers and cultural activists also issued a joint press statement on the day, expressing deep sorrow and anger at the rape, attacks and killings.
听
Referring to the September 28 violence, which left at least 30 national minority people injured and three killed, they said that there were allegations of excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies, including the army.
No force is above the rule of law and allowed to violate human rights, they reminded and stated that if anyone involved in incidents of excessive force, including members of the armed forces, must be held accountable and the culture of impunity must end now.
They also raised a nine-point demand that called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the rape and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators, protection to the girl and her family, formation of an independent commission to investigate the allegations of excessive use of force, fair trial of the perpetrators of violence, review of the long-standing 鈥榤ilitarisation policy鈥� in the hills, formulation and implementation of a peaceful and political solution.
The signatories of the statement included photographer Shahidul Alam, lawyer Sara Hossain, journalist Saydia Gulrukh, Dhaka University teacher Moshahida Sultana, cultural activist Bithi Ghosh, singer Farzana Wahid Shayan, and rights activist Nafiul Alam Shupto.
Another group of 36 citizens comprising academics, rights activists and lawyers in a joint media statement also demanded the arrest and punishment of the rapists, calling on the chief adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, to initiate a process to protect the hill communities and establish permanent peace there.
The statement was sent to the media by Shamsul Huda, executive director of development organisation Association for Land Reform and Development.
Signatories of the statement included Jahangirnagar University former professor Anu Muhammad, rights activist Sultana Kamal, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman, lawyer ZI Khan Panna, writer Rahnuma Ahmed and activist Shireen Parveen Huq.
Bangladesh Adivasi Union in a statement also condemned the incidents and demanded effective actions to ensure rights and security of the hill people.
