- From Our Dhaka Contact

(No real names for the victims have been used in this article.)

We then went forward to a site at Lalit Mohan Daser Bari in the village, also known as Gangacharaner Bari where lives Rupali-Ashish couple about a mile away from GM Bazar.

Story of Rupali & her daughter

We may remember this courageous lady with only one leg tried to save her daughters’ ijjat and in doing so she was able to hold on the assault of 4-5 armed goondas until in the melee her husband Ashish was able to flee away with their good looking daughter aged about 15 years. But the miscreants, in order to take revenge beat her mercilessly and finally took her greatest wealth the ijjat (honour). The lady could not fight any longer- she had to give in. But her only solace she could save her daughter from the hands of these hooligans. Recently her daughter has been given marriage & AP committee is pleased to help the couple in solemnizing the marriage.

Photo: Here is seen a proud couple in front of their new home

It was getting late, but the TNO and the chairman ( we heard later that he belongs to BNP politically) were found overwhelmed with the plight and horrifying stories as gradually being unfolded to them by the villagers. They insisted us to see each house being constructed for these terribly unfortunate people. The TNO later on admitted to me that he had no knowledge of such inhuman sufferings in his area of his own administration although he has been here for one year- no one briefed him. But who will ? When I disclosed the matter to Prof. Roy, he gave a simple smile saying ‘ I knew it’, and then added ‘he is the person behind all these troubles in collusion with local Mastans & opportunists. This is precise the reason we took him with us- what evil forces had done and what good forces can do for the people. We want to win over by our deeds and actions which has or had no political motives.’ It may be said here the real chairman, who himself was a victim of torture at the hands of the so-called BNP hooligans joined us in visiting the sites.

Story of Aparupa and her daughter in law

We then went to see the new house constructed for Aparupa-Gopal Das couple in a nearby village called Fatemabad about 2-3 miles from GM Bazar.  Doctor Roy told me that this couple was severely tortured at the night of 2nd October, 2002. It is a story almost similar to ‘Rupali episode’. The couple begged to the attackers, numbering about ten to spare their daughter in law ‘Aparna’, who was then carrying for 4 months. But who cared ? They were forcibly taken to a nearby empty house. The helpless father in law could do little except giving full throated cry for help for which he received merciless physical torture. Both the mother in law and the daughter in law were gang raped throughout the night one after another. The girl was left at nearby house where from she was rescued by the neighbours on the following morning. She became abnormal and for a long time she couldn’t or wouldn’t speak to any one including her husband. When we first met her in December last year our women volunteers were able to solace her to the extent that she could narrate the entire story how she was manhandled and sexually molested by those goondas. As she expressed she broke down to tears. The AP programme arranged for medical and psychological treatment. Even then he life was not safe as she and her mother in law filed cases against the known criminals of the locality- the family was constantly being harassed and threatened if they do not withdraw cases.  But the good news is that Aparna after all these agony and misery she gave birth to lovely male child. The AP committee arranged all her medical facilities for safe delivery. Prof. Roy with journalist Mubaswer Ullah Choudhury visited her later on and gave some presentation to the child and the mother who first time show a pleasant smiling face as she showed her baby to them as a proud mother. Professor assured the family for all out help and cooperation. But the sadder part of the story is that after repeated threat from the local miscreants against whom cases have been lodged of life of the Aparna couple and their newly born baby, the couple decided to leave the country which they did some time in May, 2002. ‘No amount of our assurance could generate any confidence in them’ , said Dr. Ajoy Roy. ‘Perhaps I would have done same thing if I were in their condition.’, continued learned professor. ‘When I went to see her again in June with my esteem friend Mr. Pankaj Bhattacharya, a dedicated social & political leader, we did not find her. Her mother broke down into tears.

Photo: A view of a typical house 'Hope' (Asha) for the victims

We took two Saris for Aparupa and her daughter in law and some presentation for the the baby. I simply couldn’t check my emotion- , yes tears roll down. I felt deeply guilty why I could not protect my daughter from the culprits I knew.’, lamented Prof Roy with his choked voice. When we met Aparupa and her husband Gopal Das, they gave a pleasant smile and greeted us with all humility and courtesy. Professor Roy talked to her enquiring about her daughter in law and the grand child (nati). She once again expressed her gratitude to the AP rehabilitation project team for visiting them again and again. She told Roy that her daughter in law would like to pay her respect for fatherly love shown to her during her distress-time and necessary affection he had shown to her, without this perhaps it would have been impossible for her to carry on life under such threatening condition. Ashish, husband of Rupali, a very simple person said to the team that they liked the house made for them.

[ this concludes Part 1C]

continue to Part 1D