Two indigenous girls sexually harassed by Bengali settlers in Bandarban

Two indigenous girls sexually harassed by Bengali settlers in Bandarban

27 March 2013

An indigenous Marma girl sexually harassed by Bengali youths in Bandarban

On 1 February 2013 an indigenous Marma girl was sexual harassment by three Bengali youths at Balaghata bazaar area of Bandarban municipal area under Bandarban district.
It is reported that Md. Imran, his friend Hamid and another youth sexually harassed, an eleventh grade female student residing at residential hostel of Bandarban Women’s College, when she went to Balaghata bazaar for shopping. She was also harassed and threatened by the youths while she was in the bazaar earlier in the morning. The victim reported the incident to the hostel authority and later the authority informed the police about the matter.

The college’s assistant Mr. Naishemong Marma and a local shop keeper Mr. Liakot said that they were present there when the incident occurred. They tried to prevent the miscreants, but they did not bother them and instead snatched away the mobile phone set of Naishemong Marma.

The hostel’s superintendent, Ms. Farzana Akter said that initially the victim had not informed them about the incident and that when the matter became public they informed the police about it. She confirmed that the girl was sexually harassed by the Bengali youths.

Local people informed that the perpetrator Imran is a member of the Bengali Jubo Parishad (Bengali Youth Council). He and his friends went absconding from the area subsequent to the incident. However, the perpetrators were threatening the victim.

An Indigenous Tripura college student sexually harassed by Bengali youth

On 2 February 2013 an indigenous girl student were sexually harassed by a Bengali youth named Md. Salman s/o Mohammad Harun at Milanchari resort area of Bandarban Municipal area in Bandarban district. The incident occurred during the demonstration and public gathering in support of the half-day strike of following day called by several indigenous and women’s organizations protesting increasing violence against women across the country and demanding arrest and punishment of rapists of 14-year old indigenous girl Thumaching Marma at Kaukhali upazila under Rangamati district.

The victim’s family members said that the victim was returning home at Saingya Tripura Para under Bandarban municipality after finishing the classes at her college. At around 4.00 pm when she reached at Milanchari resort area of the Bandarban-Thanchi road, Md. Salman, a worker of private resort, suddenly grabbed her. The victim was finally able to free herself and fled away.

The matter was brought to the local public representatives. Commissioner of Bandarban municipality Mr. Habibur Rahman and member of union council Mr. Jagadish Tripura said that they were preparing for a arbitration on this matter. The perpetrator Md. Saman went absconding after this incident.

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Courtesy: Kapaeeng Foundation