Stalkers assault Birangana for raising voice

A female freedom fighter has been assaulted viciously for protesting against the sexual harassment of her granddaughter in Mymensingh. The hooligans also beat up Birangana Moymona Khatun's daughter Rokeya Khatun and son-in-law Sekandar Ali of Phulpur upazila's Fatehpur village. Police have failed to arrest any of the accused five days after the assault while the culprits are threatening the complainant with dire consequences. Sekandar has returned home after treatment while his wife and mother-in-law are still being treated at Phulpur Upazila Health Complex. Rokeya told the Dhaka Tribune that one Khalilur Rahman Khalil of the same village used to harass her daughter sexually on her way to school. He had also sent marriage proposals but they were turned down. “Khalil and his brother Shakil hit my husband in the head with iron pipes and sticks at a tea stall in Bogar Bazar area on February 10 when he rejected the marriage proposal,” she said. Rokeya rushed to the spot with her mother after learning about the assault but they, too, were attacked and beaten to pulp. Locals rushed the trio to hospitals. Dr Pranesh Chandra Pandit said their condition was improving. Sekandar filed a case accusing Khalil and his brother with Phulpur police. Officer-in-Charge Ali Ahmed Molla told the Dhaka Tribune that they were trying to arrest the brothers. Police's failure to arrest the culprits has drawn criticism from locals and freedom fighters. On Tuesday, Khalil's family members reportedly threatened to kill Sekandar if he did not withdraw the case. He filed a general diary over the matter.