Kaladan News
Date: Saturday, August 07, 2004
A Religious Teacher Sentenced a 7-year Jail Sentence
Chittagong,
August 7: On 19th July
2004, a religious teacher was sentenced for 7 years jail sentence
for his absence from his house in western border of Burma,
according to our correspondent.
The victim was Moulvi Nurul
Islam, 42, son of Moulvi Abdul Zaber
hailed from Ywet Nyo Taung Para of Buthidaung
Township in Arakan State,
he further added.
Since five months back, he went to Maungdaw town for
finding a job, as the scarcity of work in Buthidaung Township
to serve his family. After arrival at Maungdaw Township,
he got a job in a mosque with a low salary. He didn’t interested
in his work and wished to change another job to earn more money.
After one month, he left from his service and joined border trade with
cooperation of a local people. He bought goods from Burma
side and sold it to Bangladesh
and in return, he bought goods from Bangladesh
and sold it in Burma.
By doing this job, he collected some money, said a friend of Maungdaw town.
On 17th July 2004,
buying some clothes for his family, he went to his native village to see his
family. On the way he met two Rakhine people with
civilian clothes while he was going to his village. They accused him coming
from Bangladesh
and it made him very angry and the said two Rakhines
received severe blows on their heads from him, a local villager said.
The next day, on 18th July
2004, the Chairman and the Secretary of the Village Peace and
Development Council went to his house, arrested him and handed over to the Nasaka camp No.21 of Buthidaung Township.
In the Nasaka camp, the arrested religious leader was
beaten severely by the Nasaka forces, he further
added.
On being informed, the victim’s father bribed Kyat 20,000/- to the Nasaka authority to bring to a halt of touring, father of
the victim said.
However, on 19th July 2004,
he was sent to the court of Buthidaung Township by
the order of the Nasaka Commander of Camp No 21,
under the Nasaka Sector No.9 with a letter, in which
he mentioned that the arrestee should be sentenced to at least 7 years jail,
father more added.
So, on the same day, he was sentenced to for 7 years imprisonment by the court
of Buthidaung town without any proper trial, accusing
Moulvi Nurul Islam of
crossing Burma-Bangladesh border, his wife said to our correspondent.
A college student said, “If any defendant asks to the judge in the court, I’m
innocent and have no guilty for this matter, he will be punished at least extra
two-year jail because of insulting the judge”. ##
For more information, please contact at:
Phone: +880 11 227 138
Email: [email protected]
, Website: www.kaladanpress.org