A village arbitration in Natore has fined two youths Tk20,000 for raping a housewife from minority community.
The arbitrators also took the victim's sign on a white paper and asked her to not to lodge any case over the issue.
While contacted, OC Mizanur Rahman of Sadar police station said: “We heard about the incident. But, the police can take necessary step once the victim files compliant with the police station.”
Victim's father-in-law told the Dhaka Tribune: “My daughter-in-law works as a field worker for a local NGO, Somota Sonchoy O Rhindan Somobay Somiti. Three criminals, including Rabbi and Arif, forcefully took her under a bridge and violated her on Saturday night while she was waiting for the bus at Ahammadpur bus stand.”
“Hearing her scram, locals rescued her and admitted at a local clinic.”
Following the incident, the victim was taking preparation for filing a case in this connection.
But, the authorities of her NGO and local arbitrators did not let her go to the police, alleged the man.
“Rather they asked us to settle the matter out of court.”
Later no Sunday night, the Executive Director of the NGO, Taslim Uddin, Karbala Gram Unnayan Center's Executive Director Ashraful Islam, Jowari union Awami League Secretary Abdur Razzak and upazila Awami League Organising Secretary Asaduzzaman called her at the NGO office and gave her Tk20,000 as compensation.
“They also asked her not to file any case over the incident.”
He further said: “The criminals are very influential and dangerous. My daughter-in-law may lose her job if she tries to file any case.”