“Chairman of National Human Rights Commission told me that we would get justice over the death of my son. Two months have elapsed, but there is no progress. Will we not get justice as we are poor?” asked Rumia Akter.
Rumia Akter is the mother of Rubel who was injured critically during a clash between police and local people at Kalihati upazila, Tangail on September 18. Later, he died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on September 20.
She said: “Rubel was the only earning member in our family. Now we are living a sub-human life, but nobody came to help us.”
On September 18, three people were killed and 50 others sustained injuries in police firing after they blocked the Tangail-Mymensingh road demanding punishment of a rapist.
The clash ensued when several hundreds of people from Ghatail and Kalihati brought out a protest procession. Police barred them from demonstrating on the road triggering a chase and counter-chase.
At one point, police charged batons on them and fired from shotguns resulting in the death of Shamim, son of Alhaz from Kalia village of Ghatail, on the spot.
Faruk, 32, of Satia village of the upazila, succumbed to his injuries at Tangail Sadar Hospital.
Critically injured Shaymal Chandra died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Father of Shaymal fell sick after his death on the way.
The local people took to the street after a woman was raped in front of her son during an attribution over an extra marital affair at Ghatail on September 15.
The following day, the rape victim filed a case against one Roma, his brother-in-law Hafiz and another person named Kazi under the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Act with Kalihati police station.
“We want justice over the death of my son,” said Bharti Chandra, mother of Shyamal.
Family members of Faruk are also frustrated as there is not progress in the killing case.
Asia Khatun, wife of Faruk, said she worked in mater-roll at a local vocational training centre. She said: “After the death of my husband I was assured that I my job would be regularised. But in these days, I could not find any step regarding regularisation of my job.”
Amena Begum, mother of Shamim, said: “District administration promised to us that it would provide us four decimals of land. But in the last two months nobody came to us to know how we are.”
Md Mahbub Hossain, deputy commissioner, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had not promised to anybody that they would give land or job to them. But the government would provide the affected family grant.
Two separate cases were filed in this connection. Later, the cases were handed over to Detective Branch of Police.
Mofijur Rahman, investigation officer of the cases, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were investigating the matter and a charge sheet would be submitted in this regard soon.
Earlier, two committees have been formed to investigate the incident, one by DC office and another by police. Seven people were arrested so far.