A woman and her daughter, who were forced to leave their house because of the threats made by local thugs, are still wandering as police allegedly failed to ensure their safety.
The security concern of Momotaz Begum and her daughter Farzana Akter Anamika came to light after they took shelter at Khulna press club on Sunday in a bid to save themselves from attack from local goons.
She then said Naim, son of Nantu Mollah of Fulbari gate area in Khulna city, had been harassing her daughter for a long time.
Deputy Comissioner of Khulna Nazmul Ahsan yesterday talked to Momotaz Begum and her daughter yesterday following reports made on various newspapers and news portals, but was unable to arrange security for them.
Momotaz Begum told the Dhaka Tribune that they went to Daulatpur police station as deputy commisioner assured her of security measures were made for them.
She said when they had gone to police station, police told them that they would only drop them to their house, but they would not take their further responsibilies.
''They also advised me to marry off my daughter with Naim. Why should I go back to my house when the state is not providing us with safety?,” she asked.
She also informed that they would stay at the house of their relative until administration ensured safety for them.
She said: “I have talked with his parents and local elders about the mater, but no progress has been made.
Naim and his cohorts also vandalised my house two days ago. They also took signatures from us on a white paper.”
She alleged that the thugs also assaulted her husband Moshiur Rahman.
Earlier, police arrested Naim following a complain made by Momotaz on June 11. He was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for harassing the girl by a mobile court on the same day.
Momotaz alleged that family members of Naim who are nfluential in the area had been threatening them with dire consequences since then.
Police, however, said local residents were annoyed with the mother-daughter as they were involved in “anti-social” activities.
Mominul Islam, coordinator of the Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights (BSEHR), told the Dhaka Tribune that Momotaz Begum had taken shelter at the press club as they had not got any assistance from law enforcement agencies.
He said as police could not play satisfactory role, they did feel safe enough to go back to their house.