National rights body shocked at Kushtia Lalon devotee's house vandalism

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports on alleged vandalism of 90-year-old Lalon devotee China Begum's house in Kushtia's Takimara village. 

The commission, in a press statement issued yesterday, said the allegations of vandalising the house of the elderly woman and assaulting her as she protested, were "shocking and a violation of human rights".

The NHRC has asked for information on the investigation and arrest of the accused from the Kushtia superintendent of police by 30 July.

China, the widow of Gazir Uddin Fakir, earlier filed a complaint with Kushtia Sadar Police Station against 45-50 people, alleging that they demolished her house and caused damages amounting to at least Tk1 lakh on 26 June.
Meanwhile, a group of 25 eminent citizens issued a statement yesterday expressing their outrage over the incident.

"Despite [reports of] continuous attacks on Baul or Jatra artists, including their torture and harassment, and burning their musical instruments and manuscripts in various parts of the country, the state and law enforcement agencies have failed to play a responsible role," reads the statment.

Human rights activist and former caretaker government advisers Sultana Kamal, Rasehda K Chowdhury, renowned actor Ramendu Majumdar, Prof Syed Anwar Hossain, human rights activist Khushi Kabir, Dhaka University Professor MM Akash and Professor Robaet Ferdous are among the signatories.

'Settlement' 

Earlier on Friday, the investigating police officer, SI Khairuzzaman, summoned China Begum and the accused individuals to a meeting at Kushtia Model Police Station.

The officer said with China Begum's consent and the agreement of all parties involved, it has been decided that a house adjacent to the area where China's son lives, will be allocated to her.

Furthermore, all the accused parties have agreed to bear the entire cost of constructing this house for her.

Regarding the matter, Union Councillor Ejaz Ahmed told TBS, "It was decided that the previous area was unsafe and risky for the old woman to live alone there. Her son Mozibur Rahman's home is located in a densely populated area nearby, and China's new house will be built there with fundings from the accused."

Demand for justice 

However, China expressed her grievances regarding the matter.

"Before his death, my husband told me that if there is no place for me, I must stay next to his grave. I built the house to keep my promise. But the locals demolished the house without informing me," China Begum said.

The woman alleged that an outsider who had just built a house in the area pushed her to the ground when she protested against the vandalism.

China said she had wished to spend the last days of her life by her husband's grave and light evening lamps there. 

Her brother-in-law Sadhu Shahabuddin Sabu said, "What is our crime? Can't we, the Sadhu community, even live on our own land? Why was this house demolished? We demand justice for this incident."