বিশেষ সংবাদ

Criminal Case filed against Atheist Era magazine on the ground of blasphemy and other charges

A case on the ground of blasphemy has been filed in relation to the recent issue of a magazine called “Atheist Era”. The list of accused consists of 20 names including the Editor and other personnel of this magazine and the contributors/writers whose writing appeared on this issue.

Magistrate Ahmed Humayun Kabir, sitting at Court No. 06 of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates’ Court, took cognizance of the case under Section 295 of the Bangladesh Penal Code 1860 on 20 November. The complainant in this case is a Md. Yasin Alam Bhuiyan. The case (CR-234/2022) has been sent to the Superintendent of Police of the Police Bureau of Investigation for investigation. The Investigation Report is due on 29 December this year.

Referring to the petiton of the case, the court sources said that the magazine did not only contain filthy articles insulting Islam but also criticized the elements of Islam existing in the legal system of Bangladesh. By doing so, in effect, it spread slanders against the government of Bangladesh, the judiciary and the lagal system. Extremely humiliating write-ups about the Holy Prophet Muhammad have also been published in the same magazine. Recognition of homosexuals/bisexuals, change or abolition of laws in this regard and Islamic fundamentalism were the subject matters of the write-ups in this magazine.

The accused of this case are, Md Arman Hossain (Editor), Tanvir Ahmed, Jishan Tanvir Mostofa, Zobayer Hossain, Md Jakir Hossain, Md Asaduzzaman Khan Rony, Johny Chandra Saha, Md Mohiuddin Masud, Imrul Kayes, Md Zahirul Islam, Johnny Joseph Costa, Asif Islam, Mohaiminul Biswas Parvez, Kamal Chandra Sarkar, K M Mahfuzur Rahman, Md Rasel Miah, Abu Bakar Siddik, Md Abdul Razzak, Mohammed Moin Uddin Chowdhury, and Md Al Amin Kaisar.

When contacted, the complainant Mr. Bhuiyan did not hold back his frustration and anger with the accused in the case. He said, “This magazine has been spreading conspiracies and slander against Islam for a long time, both online and offline, against the laws of Bangladesh, the laws that emphasize Islamic consciousness and values, and against the government of Bangladesh. We have filed this case lawfully. They are not only attacking the Islam but also the Government of Bangladesh and the law and constitution of our beloved Awami government. Especially, this atheists are plotting conspiracies against the existing law regarding atheists and homosexuals. As a supporter and activist of the Awami League I can tell that if these people are not brought under the law now our leader will be in great danger in future.”

Progress made in the investigation of the sedition case against The Daily Nobojug

By Staff Reporter on 30/10/2022

Recent media reports around the case of sedition brought by a member of the Bangabandhu Lawyers’ Association against the controversial The Daily Nobojug and some of its comment-contributors/readers on issues such as the Al-Jazeera’s hour-long documentary “All the Prime-Minister’s Men” and the controversial death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed in prison suggest that the investigation against the accused is in full flow and details are emerging as to their motive behind their actions leading to the charges. The offending article was published on The Daily Nobojug on 27 March 2021.

On the condition of anonymity, a reliable source from PBI (Police Bureau of Invesitagtion), which has been tasked with the investigation of the charges by the Additional Chief Magistrate Md. Hasibul Haque of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court – 05 by way of an order issued on 25 August 2021, has confirmed to TheBDNews24 that, on preliminary investigation, most of the accused appear to be based overseas, mainly in Europe and the US and it is clear that they are working closely, covertly and sometimes explicitly, with the dominant parts of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party which is currently being led by exiled BNP leader Tarique Rahman, to upset the harmony within the country and to create chaos and disorder by spreading confusion and misinformation about the government, armed forces and the judiciary.

Some identities have now been uncovered – Md Razim Hossain, Md Rukon Miah, Md Sabbir Hossain, Md Al Amin Kaisar, Md Masum Sajjad, Mohammad Shahidul Islam Jaigirdar, Md Ashif Hossain, and Ahsanul Huda Sarker. The responsible PBI team are tracking the whereabouts of these individuals and investigating these individuals’ local addresses. It is expected further progress will be made.

The investigation continues in this case (CR-120/2021).

Testimony in murder case over Rana Plaza collapse begins

A total of 594 people have been made witnesses in the case

A Dhaka court on Monday finally began recording testimony of prosecution witnesses in the murder case lodged over the death of over 1,200 people in the tragic collapse of Rana Plaza building, around six years after the charge framing.

Plaintiff of the case and then sub-inspector of Savar police station Wali Ashraf testified at the court of Dhaka District and Sessions Judge AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan.

Dhaka District and Sessions Judge SM Quddus Zaman on July 18, 2016 framed the charges against the 41 accused, including building owner Sohel Rana, in the murder case filed by police. But the proceedings of the case remained stalled since then because of the stay order issued by the High Court.

Police filed the case over murder because of negligence. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed the charge sheet in the case on April 26, 2015 against 41 people.

A total of 594 people were made witnesses in the case.

Hundreds of people, mostly garment workers, were killed and over 2,500 injured in the building collapse on April 24, 2013.

Source: The Dhaka Tribune

1,783 total views

Russia, US to square off at UN Security Council over Ukraine

The United States and Russia are squaring off at the U.N. Security Council over Ukraine, with Washington calling Moscow’s actions a threat to international peace and security, while a Kremlin envoy ridiculed Monday’s meeting as a “PR stunt.”

The U.N. meeting kicks off more high-level diplomacy this week, although talks between the U.S. and Russia have so far failed to ease tensions in the crisis, in which Russia has massed an estimated 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders, stoking fears in the West of an invasion.

Russia denies it intends to launch an attack but demanded that NATO promise never to allow Ukraine to join the alliance, halt the deployment of NATO weapons near Russian borders, and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe. NATO and the U.S. call those demands impossible.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken didn’t make any visible progress in easing the tensions at their meeting in Geneva earlier this month. They are expected to speak by phone Tuesday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call Thursday that there is a “distinct possibility” Russia could begin an incursion in February, but the Ukrainian leader sought to play down the war fears, saying Western alarm over an imminent invasion has prompted many investors in the country’s financial markets to cash out.

Zelenskyy said Friday that “we aren’t seeing any escalation bigger than before,” and charged that the Russian buildup could be an attempt by Moscow to exert “psychological pressure” and sow panic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Ukraine on Tuesday for talks with Zelenskyy, and will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later Monday, to urge him to “step back,” Johnson’s office said. Johnson says he is considering sending hundreds of British troops to NATO countries in the Baltic region as a show of strength.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that “hysteria promoted by Washington triggers hysteria in Ukraine, where people are almost starting to pack their bags for the front line.”

While Russia could try to block the Security Council meeting if it gets the support of nine of the 15 members, the U.S. was confident it had “more than sufficient support” to hold it, according to a senior official in the Biden administration who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly.

Any formal action by the Security Council is extremely unlikely, given Russia’s veto power and its ties with others on the council, including China.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia’s actions pose “a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.”

Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Thomas-Greenfield said: ”We’re going into the room prepared to listen to them, but we’re not going to be distracted by their propaganda.”

She said last week that council members “must squarely examine the facts and consider what is at stake for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe, and for the core obligations and principles of the international order should Russia further invade Ukraine.”

Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky tweeted that he hoped other Security Council members “will not support this clear PR stunt.”

Assuming the meeting goes ahead, the council will first hear a briefing by a senior U.N. official followed by statements from its 15 members including Russia, the United States and European members France, Ireland, United Kingdom and Albania. Under council rules, Ukraine will also speak.

China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun indicated Beijing supports Moscow in opposing a council meeting.

“Both sides have shown willingness to continue their negotiations,” he told several reporters on Friday. “Let them settle the differences through dialogue, through negotiations.”

“Russia has said clearly they have no intention to have a war” and the Security Council should “help to deescalate the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire,” Zhang said.

Geraldine Byrne Nason, the U.N. ambassador to Ireland, which is serving a two-year term on the council, said her country wants to see calm prevail.

“We want to see de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue,” she added.

On Sunday, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Menendez, said that in the event of an attack, lawmakers want Russia to face “the mother of all sanctions.” That includes actions against Russian banks that could severely undermine the Russian economy and increased lethal aid to Ukraine’s military.

The sanctions under consideration would apparently be significantly stronger than those imposed after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Those penalties have been seen as ineffective.

Menendez also raised the prospect of imposing some punishments preemptively, before any invasion.

___

Source: AP

OC Pradeep, inspector Liyakat to die for major Sinha murder

6 others awarded life term imprisonment, 7 acquitted

The Cox’s Bazar Sessions Judge Court on Monday sentenced former Teknaf police station officer-in-charge Pradeep Kumar Das and inspector Liakat Ali to death for murdering retired major Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan on July 31, 2020. Judge Mohammad Ismail of the court pronounced the verdict in the afternoon also awarding six other people including three cops and three villagers to suffer life term rigorous imprisonment for committing the offence.

The life term imprisonment recipients are the then Teknaf police sub-inspector Nanda Dulal Rakshit, constables Rubel Sharma and Sagar Dev, and villagers Nurul Amin, Nizam Uddin, and Ayas Uddin.

The court also acquitted seven other accused in the case – the then Baharchhara police investigation centre assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia and constables Safanur Karim, Kamal Hossain and Abdullah Al Mamun and the then Cox’s Bazar-based Armed Police Battalion sub-inspector Shahjahan and constables Rajib and Abdullah, said Mohammad Jahangir, a lawyer representing the plaintiff of the case.

All the convicts and the acquitted ones heard the verdict from the dock.

Tight security measures were taken in and around the court premises on the occasion of pronouncement of the verdict.

The court observed that the murder was a pre-planned one.

While the court activities were in progress, a number of people, especially relatives of the people died in ‘gunfight’ incidents in Teknaf, outside the court premises formed a human chain demanding capital punishment for OC Pradeep and his cohorts for killing nearly dozens of people in Teknaf in the name of ‘gunfight’.

On January 12, the same court, following the case summing up arguments by both the prosecution and the defence lawyers, set Monday for delivering the verdict in the case against 15 accused.

Retired major Sinha was shot dead at the Shamlapur police checkpoint in Baharchhara Union of Cox’s Bazar while returning to Cox’s Bazar town on July 31, 2020, after filming for a documentary.

His sister Sharmen Shahria Ferdush filed the case with a Cox’s Bazar judicial magistrate court against nine members of law enforcement agencies, including Pradeep and Baharchhara police outpost inspector Liyakat Ali, on August 5, 2020.

On December 13, 2020, the Rapid Action Battalion submitted the charge sheet against 15 people — Pradeep, Liyakat, then Teknaf police sub-inspector Nanda Dulal Rakshit, constables Rubel Sharma and Sagar Dev, then Baharchhara police investigation centre assistant sub-inspector Liton Mia and constables Safanur Karim, Kamal Hossain and Abdullah Al Mamun, then Cox’s Bazar-based Armed Police Battalion sub-inspector Shahjahan and constables Rajib and Abdullah and villagers Nurul Amin, Nizam Uddin, and Ayas Uddin. All the accused are now in prisons.

On June 27, 2021, Cox’s Bazar court framed charges against the 15. All the police members named in the charge sheet were suspended following their arrest.

The court examined 65 of the 83 prosecution witnesses.

The charge sheet stated that Pradeep had plotted the murder nearly two weeks ago.

The battalion said that the three villagers were police informers and took part in the Sinha murder plot.

Source: New Age BD

2,904 total views

Death toll in massive Bangladesh ferry fire rises to 40

Bangladeshi authorities buried 23 unclaimed bodies on Saturday after a day-long search failed to recover more victims or survivors of a massive fire on a crowded river ferry that left 40 people dead.

Habibur Rahman, a top government official, said he had an incomplete list of 17 missing people who were on board the ferry on Friday when the fire awoke passengers around 3 a.m., forcing many to leap into cold waters and swim ashore.

Divers looked for more survivors before suspending their efforts at sunset on Saturday.

Rahman said 50 people were being treated in two hospitals, while 19 others have been sent home.

Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, said his hospital was treating 15 people for serious burns. “I would say everyone is critical and no one is out of danger,” he said.

Source: AP

Criminal Defamation Suit against infamous The Daily Nobojug for publishing threatening and inflammatory comments on the Prime Minister and the Father of the Nation

Dhaka Correspondent, 30 September 2021

Crackdown has begun on the abusers of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of press. One of the most recent examples comes from a lawsuit Md. Bayezid Sheikh filed on 29 September 2021, at the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court against a total of 47 individuals, including the editor-publisher and other officials of an online based newspaper called The Daily Nobojug, for making and publishing defamatory statements against the Prime Minister, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, Bangladesh judiciary, judges and the Awami League. The case (CR-797/2021) was filed pursuant to Sections 500 and 501 of the Bangladesh Penal Code 1860. The Daily Nobojug, like some other media outlets, have now been party to a series of such lawsuits. It appears the government’s patience is running low against such media outlets as can be seen by the active engagement with lawsuits by the lower courts on similar issues.

Our court correspondent informs that 47 individuals were listed as accused in this criminal defamation case. – Esrat Rashid (36, Editor, The Daily Nobojug), Jony Joseph Costa (32, Assistant Editor, Daily Nobojug), Nurul Huda (29, Senior Assistant Editor, Daily Nobojug), Md Tofail Hossain (Senior Advisor, Daily Nobojug), Ali Amin (39, Publisher, Daily Nobojug), Peerzada Tanvir Ahmed (24), Mohammad Shahidul Islam Jaigirdar (36), Md. Abdul Razzak (28), Md. Masum Sajjad (32), Ariful Haque Arif, Mohammad Jakir Hossain (29), Md Razim Hossain (30), Shiplu Kumar Barmon (42), Musa Ahmed Jaigerder (31), Mohammad Zillur Rahman, Mukit Chowdhury (34, Joint Secretary, Bangladeshi Nationalist Youth Party, London Metropolitan Branch), Abu Sayed (25), Md. Al-Amin Kaisar (31), Md Maraz Miah (28), Md Shaim (20), Shahriar Md. Nafis Khan (32, Joint Secretary, London Metropolitan Juba Dal, UK BNP), Shamim Al Mamun (32), Ahsanul Kabir (35), Sultana Zebunnesa (43), Samiuzzaman Siddique (40), Md Sabbir Hossain (30, Editor, Portal Bangladesh), Md Zahirul Islam (33), Al Mahfuz (24), Md Obaidur Rahman Khan, Md. Arath Hossain Rony (29), Umma Kulsum Nargis Banu (39), Nurul Faruq Shaker (35), Mohammed Nizamul Haque (47). , Mohammad Fahidul Alam, Md Kanzid Hasan, Md Mijanur Rahaman (37), Mahtab Uddin (38), Md Shahidul Islam (38), Dildar Ali (39), Abdul Wahid Choudhury (43), Muminur Raja Chowdhury (40), Md Rezaul Islam (28) and Abu Bakar Siddique (36) amongst others.

Our court correspondent’s investigation reveals that on March 22 and May 28 this year, the Daily Nobojug published two articles titled “Al Jazeera Documentary, Mushtaq’s Death in Prison and Thoughts of Expatriates” and “Freedom of Speech in Bangladesh, Awami Fascism and Puppet Judiciary”. In both of these articles, highly critical and abusive comments were directed towards the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, her father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Government of Bangladesh, the Army and the National Intelligence Agency. Some of the comments were clearly full of intimidation, taunting, and even death threats.

Speaking to TheBDNews24.NET, the complainant of the case, Md. Bayezid Sheikh, angrily said – “Each of the accused has been carrying out various propaganda against Bangladesh for a long time. Although Bangladesh gained independence, it has not yet got rid of the sons of the Razakars. How can they have the audacity to speak against Bangabandhu or Sheikh Hasina? They have no right to stay in or return to Bangladesh.”

Government sources have been approached for comment without success. On the condition of anonymity, one government source confirmed that the Home Ministry is taking increasingly harder steps against the Bangladeshi citizens who are vilifying the nation and its name. Changes of law in citizenship nullification are being explored.

Following a review of the evidence filed by the complainant who is a Awami League supporter and grassroot activist, Chief Judicial Magistrates’ Cognizance Court’s Senior Judicial Magistrate Razib Hasan ordered the case documents and evidence to be sent to the Additional Superintendent of Police (PBI) of Dhaka district for investigation. The superintendent of police has been asked to submit an investigation report at the next hearing of the case on December 9, this year. Police sources have declined to make any comment when approached.

We have sought comments from the accused but we are yet to receive any response yet.

PBI launches investigation against the accused in the sedition case against The Daily Nobojug

Published on 20/09/2021 at 14:02

On the condition of anonymity, a reliable source from PBI, which has been tasked with the investigation of the charges by the Additional Chief Magistrate Md. Hasibul Haque of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court – 05 by way of an order issued on 25 August 2021, has confirmed TheBDNews24 that, on preliminary investigation, most of the accused appear to be based overseas, mainly in Europe and the US and it is clear that they are working closely, covertly and sometimes explicitly, with the dominant parts of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party which is currently being led by exiled BNP leader Tarique Rahman, to upset the harmony within the country and to create chaos and disorder by spreading confusion and misinformation about the government, armed forces and the judiciary.

It has recently transpired that one of the accused, a Noor Miah from Osmani Nagar, Sylhet, fled the country when his sexuality became a talking point for the local populace and his comment, as it appeared on the Daily Nobojug Article of 22 March 2021, was full of vitriol and acerbic acrimony towards the Prime Minister, her family, Retired General Aziz and the legal system in general. Most of his comment was full of inflammatory condemnation laced with his demand for equal rights for homosexuals, bisexuals and trans-sexuals. In the process, he berated almost the entirety of the legal system and the Islamic components adopted within the legal system.

His family, when approached, told TheBDNews24 that they denounce Noor Miah’s comments and they have no relationship with him and they do not intend to preserve any relationship with him. Locals, when approached, expressed bafflement and anger at the contents of Noor Miah’s allegations against the government. His stand on the rights of the bisexuals and homosexuals, in particular, seemed to incense those who knew him or knew of him.

The investigation continues in this case (CR-120/2021) and the full report is due on 22 November 2021.

Source: thebdnews4.net

Because of contents published by an online news outlet, charges of treason and sedition have been brought against the publication and the participants

3 April 2021

On 28 March, 2021, Additional Chief Magistrate Md. Hasibul Haque took due cognizance of a petition brought by a Mr. Md. Rabiul Alam Jewel, a lawyer by profession and the Organisational Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of Bangabandhu Law Students’ Association (an approved offshoot of the Awami League Legal Committee), who included in his complaint that the Daily Nobojug and its editorial panel and publisher along with those who participated in the relevant article “Al-Jajeera Documentary, Mushtaq’s death in prison and thoughts of the Expats” were guilty of treason and seditionary attempts amongst other offences.

Magistrate Haque allowed the petition to be filed (CR Ref: 120/2021) under the Sections 123A, 124A, 505, 505A, and 34 of the Penal Code 1860, Bangladesh and directed the petitioner to liaise with the relevant wing of the Home Ministry in order to commence the investigation stage. No further date has been set as yet.

The court sources confirmed that the petition listed at least 27 individuals as accused who are – Shiplu Kumar Barmon, Esrat Rashid (Editor, The Daily Nobojug), Ali Amin (Publisher, The Daily Nobojug), Jony Joseph De Costa (Assistant Editor, The Daily Nobojug), Nurul Huda (Senior Assistant Editor, The Daily Nobojug), Mukit Chowdhury, Md Imran Hossain, Biplob Paul, Noor Miah, Ahsanul Huda Sarker, Md. Jakir Hossain, Mizanur Rahman, Md Razim Hossain, Umma Kulsum Nargis Banu, Ahsanul Kabir, Nurul Faruque Shaker, Md Rukon Mia, Md Ashif Hossain, Md. Masum Sajjad, Md. Arath Hossen Rony, Mohammad Shahidul Islam Jaigirder, Md. Obaidur Rahman Khan, Md. Al-Amin Kaiser, and Md. Sabbir Hossain amongst others.

The entire saga began when the Daily Nobojug invited in February 2021 comments and write-ups from its readers on the issues surrounding Al-Jazeera’s controversial documentary on the current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Army Chief and his family history and the death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed in prison. This resulted in the publication of the aforementioned article on 22 March 2021 by the Daily Nobojug on their web-page. In that article, unadulterated attacks were launched by the contributing commenters on the prime minister herself, her family and the father of the nation in such a way which could only be described as defamatory, aggressive, criminally intimidatory, and life-threatening.

The comments appeared to long for a repeat of the massacre of the Sheikh family in 1975. The comments were also openly hostile to the Digital Security Act 2018 and in particular the leading judge of the Cyber Tribunal along with those judge/judges who refused the late Mushtaq Ahmed bail on a number of occasions. The article also contained open invitations to the foreign powers to invade and attack Bangladesh so that the current government could be removed from the levers of power which, clearly, is an invitation to attack the sovereignty and independence of Bangladesh as a free country.

The lawyer acting for the petitioner, Advocate. Mr. Apple said “This is a very distressing case and the nature of the allegations brought by my client is not ordinary but this complaint is important and I am pleased that the magistrate has taken into account the seriousness of the complaint and admitted the case.

This kind of publication is very harmful to the interests of Bangladesh as a state and whilst I am fully respectful to any person’s right to free speech and right to freedom of expression, this is a qualified constitutional right, not an absolute one. It is my view and I believe others would agree that the sovereignty of the state trumps the rights of freedom to expression and free speech as it should be. I invite the government to take a robust position on this kind of abuse and misuse of these freedoms.”

We contacted the Deputy Commissioner’s office comment on its approach towards this case but no comment was made available.

We also contacted the Daily Nobojug but have not yet heard back from them although we noticed that they have published a short response to the reports of this case having been filed against them. In this response, they attempted to justify their position and their right to publish critical comments on the current government and issued a warning that if this kind of lawsuit persisted, free and fair journalism would be eradicated soon.

নির্যাতন রোধের হেল্পলাইনে করোনা নিয়ে ৯০% কল

নাটোরের গুরুদাসপুরে দশম শ্রেণির এক ছাত্রী মহিলা ও শিশুবিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয়ের হেল্পলাইনে (১০৯ নম্বর) ফোন করে নিজের বাল্যবিবাহ ঠেকিয়ে দেয়। এ ঘটনা চলতি বছরের শুরুর দিকে। মেয়েটি ফোন করার পর হেল্পলাইন থেকে তথ্য পাঠানো হয় গুরুদাসপুরের উপজেলা নির্বাহী কর্মকর্তা (ইউএনও) মো. তমাল হোসেনের কাছে। তিনি মহিলাবিষয়ক কর্মকর্তাকে মেয়েটির বাড়িতে পাঠিয়ে বাল্যবিবাহ বন্ধ করার ব্যবস্থা করেন।

শুধু বাল্যবিবাহ নয়, যেকোনো ধরনের নারী ও শিশু নির্যাতনের ঘটনায় তাৎক্ষণিক ব্যবস্থা নিতে মহিলা ও শিশুবিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয় ২০১২ সালে হেল্পলাইনটি চালু করে। তবে চলতি বছর এতে নারী নির্যাতন প্রতিরোধবিষয়ক কলের বদলে করোনা নিয়ে জানতে বেশি ফোন আসছে।

নির্যাতন রোধের হেল্পলাইনে করোনা নিয়ে ৯০% কল

হেল্পলাইনটি পরিচালিত হয় মন্ত্রণালয়ের নির্যাতন প্রতিরোধকল্পে মাল্টিসেক্টরাল প্রোগ্রামের আওতায়। তাদের হিসাব অনুযায়ী, চলতি বছরের জানুয়ারি থেকে অক্টোবর পর্যন্ত ১০ মাসে ১১ লাখ ১৯ হাজারের মতো কল আসে। এর মধ্যে মাত্র ১ লাখ ১৯ হাজার কল আসে সাধারণ চিকিৎসা, পরামর্শ, পুলিশি সহায়তা, আইনি সহায়তা ও তথ্য চেয়ে। বাকি কলগুলোকে অন্যান্য শ্রেণিভুক্ত করা হয়। কর্মকর্তারা বলছেন, কিছু বাদ দিয়ে অন্যান্য শ্রেণিভুক্ত কলগুলো মূলত করোনা নিয়ে। ১০ মাসে সাধারণ চিকিৎসা বিষয়ে জানতে ১ হাজার ৭৩৭, পরামর্শ সেবা পেতে ৫৭৯, পুলিশি সহায়তা পেতে ১১ হাজার ৫৭৯, আইনি সহায়তা পেতে ১৮ হাজার ৫৬৮ এবং তথ্য পেতে ৮৬ হাজার ৬৭১টি কল আসে।

বিগত কয়েক বছরের হিসাবে দেখা যায়, সাধারণত অন্যান্য শ্রেণিভুক্ত কলের সংখ্যা খুব কম থাকে। যেমন ২০১৯ সালেও ১৮ লাখের মধ্যে ২৪ হাজারের মতো কল ছিল অন্যান্য শ্রেণিভুক্ত। এবার মোট কলের ৯০ শতাংশই অন্যান্য শ্রেণিভুক্ত। এ বিষয়ে মাল্টিসেক্টরাল প্রোগ্রাম প্রকল্পের পরিচালক আবুল হোসেন বলেন, এ বছর মানুষের করোনা নিয়ে উদ্বেগ বেশি ছিল। তাই এ হেল্পলাইনে করোনা নিয়েই ফোন বেশি এসেছে। মহিলা ও শিশুবিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয় ২০১২ সালে যখন হেল্পলাইনটি চালু করে, তখন নম্বর ছিল ১০৯২১। ২০১৭ সাল থেকে এটি ১০৯ নম্বরের মাধ্যমে পরিচালিত হচ্ছে। ২০১৪ সাল থেকে এটি টোল ফ্রি, অর্থাৎ বিনা মূল্যে কল করা যায়।

কর্মকর্তারা জানান, হেল্পলাইনটিতে তিন পালায় (শিফট) ২৪ ঘণ্টা ৭৮ জন কর্মী সেবা দেন। তবে গত আগস্টে জাতীয় সংসদের মহিলা ও শিশু মন্ত্রণালয়-সম্পর্কিত স্থায়ী কমিটির বৈঠকে ২৪ ঘণ্টা সেবা না পাওয়ার অভিযোগ করেন কমিটির সভাপতি মেহের আফরোজ। তিনি বলেন, গত ২৪ আগস্ট রাজধানীর শ্যামলীর এক নারী নির্যাতনের শিকার হয়ে উদ্ধার পেতে ১০৯ নম্বরে বারবার ফোন করেও সাড়া পাননি। এ বিষয়ে মেহের আফরোজ প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, হেল্পলাইনে জনবল কম। পরিসর আরও বাড়াতে হবে।

বর্তমান পরিস্থিতি কী, তা জানতে ১০৯ নম্বরে গত ২৪ নভেম্বর সকাল সাতটা ও বিকেল চারটায় দুবার প্রথম আলোর পক্ষ থেকে কল করা হয়। দুবারই কল ধরেন কর্মীরা। এর মধ্যে সকাল সাতটায় মো. রাসেল হোসেন নামের একজন কর্মী কল ধরেন। রাসেল বলেন, তিনি রাতের পালায় ৪৫টি কল ধরেছেন। এর মধ্যে মধ্যরাতে চট্টগ্রাম, কক্সবাজার ও যশোর থেকে নির্যাতনের অভিযোগ নিয়ে তিন নারী ফোন করেন। তিনটি ক্ষেত্রেই অভিযোগকারীকে সংশ্লিষ্ট থানার পুলিশের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করিয়ে দেওয়া হয়।

অবশ্য নারীদের অনেকেই সরকারের এ হেল্পলাইন সম্পর্কে জানেন না। সাতক্ষীরা জেলা বাল্যবিবাহ প্রতিরোধ কমিটির প্রধান সাকিবুর রহমান বলেন, এটি নিয়ে আরও প্রচার দরকার।

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