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Rape and murder in Bangladesh

Weekly Blitz reaching out to hurting Jehovah’s Witness christian family


By Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury——--June 23, 2008

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My friends, supporters, brothers and sisters around the world are possibly by now aware of the sordid story of the rape and murder of a Jehovah’s Witness Christian family here in Bangladesh.

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The incident in brief is:   At about 11 PM on 30 April 2008, the accused persons named, Mehdi [Age-24] son of Abdul Aziz, Village - Shomkhali, Police Station - Kaligonj, District – Gazipur, Bangladesh; Dulal [Age-28] father's name unknown, village - Bhatardi [Shomkhali] Police Station: Kaliugonj; Russel [Age-20] son of Arab Ali, Village -Shombazar, Police Station - Kaligonj District - Gazipur plus several other unknown miscreants forcibly entered the house of Mr. James D Silva.   Accused Mehdi brandished a pistol in his hand and accused Dulal had a knife in his hand. Dulal forcibly raped Mrs. Sima D' Silva [age 24]. Mehdi and Russel forcibly gang-raped Miss Bituni Asru D Silva [Age-14, student and daughter of Mr. James D Silva] and poured poison into her mouth. The teem survived the poison, but was choked to death by one of the accused next day when she was at Kaligonj Upazilla Hospital. None of the accused have been arrested to date.   A case was lodged with the police station subsequently [FIR No.04 / 88 Date:05/05/2008]--but instead of taking action against the culprits, police and many of the top officials in the law enforcing agencies responsible for the protection of the public are trying to accord shelter to the criminals.   Rather, police refused to arrest the culprits, as they are influential Muslim business community in the locality. The Inspector General of Police, Noor Muhammed was contacted by some social and Christian rights organization. But, instead of taking action against the culprits, the Inspector General of Police passed remarks saying, the incident was false and the wife and daughter of James were ‘prostitutes’.   James D Silva runs a small shop in Dhaka, and his income does not permit to bring his wife and children to Dhaka to stay with him. For this reason, he [James] was forced to send back his wife and children to the village few days back, taking a high risk.   Meanwhile, the culprits have attempted to assassinate Mrs. Sima D Silva a number of times. There had even been attempt to intrude into her home and abduct or rape her again. Some influential people in the locality are continuously blackmailing her and forcing her to change her statement saying, she or her daughter had never been raped, rather her daughter Bituni Asru D Silva committed suicide by taking poison. There is even tremendous pressure from local police administration on the family of James D Silva in withdrawing the case or at least changing their statement.   My newspaper, Weekly Blitz is continuing to give support to the family by publishing their stories both in Weekly Blitz and Weekly Jamjamat. We are also pursuing the matter with high officials in Bangladesh, seeking justice for the family.   If we could only help Mr. James D Silva with some money, so that he could take a larger shop, thus increasing his earnings, as well, helping him in taking a house elsewhere in Dhaka to immediately transfer his wife and children, we would be helping them find safe ground. This will save the family from the pressure of ongoing threats and persecution, as well as give them the courage to fight the injustice and prevent this horror from happening to others.   Responding to my appeal, one of our friends already sent some money for James D Silva. We shall hand it over to James, once we receive it.   James D Silva needs US$ 100 approximately per month for maintaining a house in Dhaka, while if we can arrange around US$ 10,000-15,000 for Mr. James D Silva, he can enhance his business, thus attaining the capability of maintaining his family in Dhaka.   The hardworking Bangladesh Minority Lawyer's Association has already agreed to accord all legal services to this family free of charge. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Forum is working tirelessly in getting justice for the family of Mr. James D Silva.   May I make an appeal to my friends, supporters, brothers and sisters around the world to look into this extremely important issue? Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is the editor & publisher of The Weekly Blitz. He is a journalist, columnist, author and Peace activist. He is the recipient of PEN USA Freedom to Write Award 2005, Recipient of American Jewish Committee Moral Courage Award 2006. Salah can be reached at: salahuddinshoaibchoudhury@yahoo.com  


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