Save the Girl Bristy, Bogra, Bangladesh

Chandan Sarkar

Chairman, Researchand Empowerment Organization

Dhaka, Bangladesh,www.reobd.org

Bristy 11 a minor Hindu girl of grade-7 of Bogra was kidnapped and raped brutally for 5 days by one Mohammed Azizul Sheikh, 25. On 8th May 2016 at around 7 pm, Bristy’s schoolmate Shirin, a Muslim girl and also a neighbor came to her house and requested to go to a nearby house to bring some school notes from another girl, Bristy agreed unwillingly. By this way, she was kidnapped at knifepoint by Azizul and others by a microbus.

They seduced her with chloroform to an unknown place. In Bristi’s own words, “I was senseless and while woke up in a room, fully naked and raped. Azizul was at the room. After that day, he repeatedly raped me and also changed places. I was crying all along while he was raping me like an animal. After 5 days my father and few local people rescued me.”

While kidnapped, Bristi tried to escape, but soon weakened by the effect of chloroform in a handkerchief used to seduced her. Ronjita, Sukumol and Promila age 27-35 witnessed the kidnapping but kept mouth as Azizul threatened with a knife to kill them. Do you want justice? Bristyreplied, “Definitely, Azizul did the same thing with other Hindu girls before me. Because of embarrassed parents did not come forward and administration also was reluctant to do anything, but I want justice, I want justice.”

Bristy’s parents are poor (Father: Amal Chandra 5 &MotherRenuka Rani 42 of GangNagar, Mahjpara, Shibgonj, Bogra). She studies at A. M. High School of GangNagar, Bogra and she wanted to be a teacher. She is a good student and always helped her mother. Azizul and another Belal used to tease her on the way to school. Her parents complained to the parents of Azizul, but nothing happened. A case has been filed at Shibgonj Police Station (Case# 13; dated 10th May 2016 under section 7/30 of Women and Children Repression Act,2003), but police, as usual, did nothing. Now the perpetrator is threatening the victim and her family to withdraw the case or face death. Bristywith parents in the picture.

Bristy’s news was first published in a national daily in Dhaka, the daily Purbachal, on 15 May 2016. A team lead by Chandan Sarkar, Chairman of REO-Research and Empowerment Organization had visited her on 20 May 2016. The team also talked with local administration

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