Bogra councillor arrested over torture of rape victim

Police on Sunday evening arrested Bogra Municipality Ward 2 Councillor Marzia Hasan Rumki and her mother Rumi Khatun from Pabna, in connection with the torture of a rape victim and the victim's mother. Rumki’s father Runu was captured in Bogra town shortly afterwards. [caption id="attachment_129617" align="alignright" width="250"] Bogra Municipality Ward 2 Councillor Marzia Khatun Rumki, along with 8-10 others, allegedly tortured and shaved the head of a rape victim and the victim's mother Dhaka Tribune[/caption] Rumki is the sister-in-law of alleged rapist Tufan Sarker, convenor of the Bogra city unit Shramik League. A Bogra court on Saturday put Tufan and his three accomplices on three-day remand in a case filed by the victim's mother.

Tufan suspended from Shramik League

Shramik League has suspended Tufan Sarker from the organisation over the rape allegation. This was confirmed by a statement jointly issued by Bogra district unit Shramik League President Rafiqul Islam and its General Secretary Shamsuddin Sheikh Helal on Sunday afternoon. According the case statement, Tufan, raped the girl at his own house on July 17. The girl was enticed into going to Tufan’s house through the pretense of signing some papers relating to her college admissions. Tufan also threatened the victim, saying he would take action if the incident was disclosed.

Victims spoke out after the ordeal at Rumki's house

It was only after the inhuman torture at Rumki's house on Friday evening that the mother and daughter spoke out about the rape incident. According to the victims, Tufans 's wife Asha Khatun came to know about the incident from his associate Atik. Atik has already given his confessional statement before a Bogra court in this conneciton. [caption id="attachment_129600" align="aligncenter" width="800"] A rape victim (R) and her mother lay in a stretcher next to Bangladeshi police for protection at a Hospital in Bogra on July 30, 2017 AFP [/caption] Asha informed the matter to Rumki, and the latter summoned the victim and her mother to her residence on Friday evening. According to AFP, it was Asha who dragged the duo all the way to Rumki's house. The mother and the daughter underwent inhuman torture at the hands of Asha and 8-10 followers of Tufan there. [caption id="attachment_129689" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Students and protesters don blindfolds as they demand exemplary punishment for all involved in the torture of a rape victim and her mother Dhaka Tribune[/caption] They were allegedly verbally abused by the councillor, while the torturers also shaved the heads of the victims and threatened them with an acid attack if they did not leave the district.

What police say

Following the incident, neighbours took the girl and her mother to Bogra Medical College Hospital on Friday night. Photos of the victim and her mother with their heads shaved were circulated online, prompting the police to rush to the hospital and learn about the incident in detail from the victims, Bogra Additional Superindendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Sanatan Chakraborty said. [caption id="attachment_129587" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Tufan Sarker, second from the left, a labour leader linked with the ruling Awami League party, along with three of his associates, is escorted by police following their arrest in connection with a rape case in Bogra on July 29 AFP[/caption] Police launched an instant hunt for the accused and arrested Tufan Sarkar, 28, and his cohorts Ali Azam Tipu, 25, Atik, 25, and Rupom, 24, the same night. Rumki and her mother were then arrested from Pabna town on Sunday, shortly before Rumki’s father Runu was arrested in Bogra. The drive to arrest three other accused, including Councillor Rumki's sister Asha Khatun, is still ongoing. [caption id="attachment_129633" align="alignright" width="250"] Suspended Bogra city unit Shramik League Convenor and alleged rapist Tufan Sarker Dhaka Tribune[/caption]

Who is Tufan?

Though only 28 years of age, Tufan Sarker is said to already be a millionaire with several cars in his possession. He is allegedly involved in various criminal activities, including extortion, drug peddling and land grabbing, skirting around laws by using his political influence. The union leader has already mustered a notorious group of followers, called Tufan Bahini in the locality. Tufan is the youngest among the seven children of Mojibur Rahman from Chaksutrapur area in Bogra town. Mojibur was said to be rickshaw puller in his early life. He somehow managed to enter the trade of cattle hide after the Liberation War of 1971.