KALADAN NEWS

Dated: Sunday, July 04, 2004

Two Rohingya Girls Gang Raped in Bangladesh

Teknaf, Jul 4: Two Rohingya refugee girls were gang raped by Bangladeshi local goons at Teknaf, a border town of Bangladesh, according to our correspondent. 

Victim Sara Khatun, 19, daughter of Baser and Nur Begum, 21, daughter of Abdur Rahman hails from Nazir Para of Akyab Town, the capital of Arakan State, western Burma, he further said. 

Now, they are residing with their parents in a village named Nattaung Para of Teknaf. Their families left homes in the year 2000 to escape a systematic persecution of Military Intelligent (10) personnel, said Baser, one of the victims’ fathers. 

“We are really scared and there is no doubt that our lives are at stake,” he further said.

“We are the un-official refugees living in Teknaf, rickshaw pullers, very poor and can make little earning for our families. We, both of the families are living in rented huts of Tk. 300/-per month. Besides, we have to pay Tk. 50/- to local goons as a toll for our safety in every month. Unfortunately, for the month of June 2004, we could not able to pay tolls, as we could work no more in this month,” said Abdur Rahman, one of the victims’ fathers.

On the night of 19^th June 2004, at about 12:00 midnight, a group of local goons numbering six came to their rented huts to collect tolls while no males were present there. Knowing the absence of victims’ fathers, the gangsters forced the victims to pay tolls without delay, said a neighboring villager.  

When the victims failed to pay tolls, the thugs forcibly entered their huts broking the bamboo made doors and confined other family members in a room and gang raped the victims routinely. They also looted their valuable belongings. One of the victims is still under medical treatment in Teknaf, he further added. 

Some identified rapists are: Sayed Alam, 30, son of Bashir, Rafique, 28, son of Mohammed Shafi, Mannan, 24, son of Nazir Ahmed. They are the goons of the same village. The attackers threatened the huts owner not to inform the matter to police. If informed you can see the result soon, said the huts owner. 

Despite the fear of goons, the owner of huts informed to the concerned local authorities, but they gave no attention. Afterwards, it was also informed to the concerned government authorities but no action is taken against the culprits till writing of this report, he further added. 

When asked a Rohingya refuge living in Teknaf said, “ Rohingya girls and women have no ways to find a safe place elsewhere in both countries of host and home. Though we left home to escape rape, torture and various persecutions, we have to suffer ganged rape in our host country.”

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