Some influential locals have ostracized a family of a Muslim meritorious student in Tangail’s Mirzapur upazila accusing him of a Christian and an atheist as he studied in Notre Dame College in Dhaka, an institution administered by the Congregation of Holy Cross, Society of Priests.
The victim Jewel Khan, a resident of Torafpur Pathaliapara village of Mirzapur upazila, passed Higher Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Examination from Notre Dame College. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Masters of Arts (MA) in Bangla from Dhaka University.
According to sources, Jewel Khan’s family has been in a longstanding dispute with a neighbour named Shariful Islam, son of Abdur Rashid Khan of Torafpur Pathaliapara village of Mirzapur upazila, over the boundaries of their home.
As a sequel to this enmity, on May 1, Shariful along with a gang of his cohorts- Abdul Baset Miah, Ramjan Ali, Abdul Latif, Tarikul Islam and Litu Anam- carried out an attack on Jewel’s family.
At one point, they accused Jewel Khan of being Christian as he studied in Notre Dame College. Shariful and his gang also claimed those who study in Notre Dame College and Dhaka University are Christian and atheist.
Labelling Jewel a Christian and an atheist, Shariful and his gang ostracized Jewel Khan and his family. They even threatened the locals not to contact with the family members.
Since then, Jewel’s family are not allowed to take part in social activities and religious ceremonies in the village. The family was barred from slaughtering animals during the last Eid-ul-Azha.
Jewel mother Amena Begum alleged: “Shariful and his gang are harassing my family by implicating us in a false case although they attacked us.”
Mahmudul Hasan, a health worker from Torafpur village, said:J"ewel's family does not respect anyone in the society. Moreover, Jewel's father does not care about the mosque, even the family do not pay donation at mosque. That is why the elders of the society have decided to ostracize them."
Regarding the matter, Mirzapur police station Officer-in-Charge (investigation) Giasuddin, said: "I have heard that some influential locals of the village labeled Jewel Khan as a Christian as he studied in Notre Dame College."
Besides, Mirzapur police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Sayedur Rahman, said: "Some influential locals threatened to expel Jewel’s family from society. The matter is very inhumane. We have investigated the matter and found it true. We will take actions.”
