Kapaeeng Foundation

Leaders of the citizen rights groups demanded justice for Sabita Chakma. They have called upon the police to handle the murder case of Sabita Chakma in an unbiased manner and immediately arrest the alleged. They demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the murderers. They also alleged that a total of 227 indigenous women were victims of rape, murder, kidnap, sexual harassment and physical torture from 2007 to 2013.

Citizen rights groups raised these demands at a human chain formed protesting against killing of Sabita Chakma after rape and violence against indigenous women. The human chain was organised by Nagorik Samaj (Citizens Society) in facilitation of Kapaeeng Foundation on 23 February 2014 at 11:00 am in front of National Museum in Dhaka.

The human chain was addressed by, among others, executive director of Nijera Kori and Bangladesh coordinator of One Billion Rising Ms. Khushi Kabir, eminent human rights activist Shipra Bose, publication secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad Ms. Saraban Tahura, convenor of M N Larma Memorial Foundation Mr. Bijoy Keton Chakma, assistant general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum Mr. Bonota Moy Dhamai, representative of Action Aid Mr. Subhagya Mongal Chakma, representative of Manusher Jonno Foundation Ms. Tandra Chakma, president of Hill Students Council Mr. Trijinad Chakma, president of Hill Women’s Federation Chanchana Chakma et al.

Sabita Chakma, a 30 year woman, was murdered after rape at Chengi Char under Kamalchari union in Khagrachhari district on 15 February 2014 allegedly by some Bengali labourers who were extracting sand at that time on the said spot.

Please some media coverage of this event.

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Dhaka Tribune, 24 February 2014

SABITA CHAKMA MURDER CASE

Police urged to act neutrally

 ‘If they act in a ethnic way, peace cannot be restored here. They should differentiate between criminal and innocent not between Bangalee and Pahari’

Women and indigenous rights activists have called upon the police to handle the murder case of Sabita Chakma in an unbiased manner and immediately arrest the alleged.

In the first information report, the Khagrachari Police did not mention names of the accused although Sabita’s husband Dev Ratan had mentioned names, claimed the activists at a human chain formed in front of the National Museum in the capital yesterday.

Rights activist Khushi Kabir said: “It is frustrating to see the state acting in a communal manner.  One vested quarter is trying to influence the case and save the criminals. That is why police did not record the names mentioned by Sabita’s husband.”

Thirty-year-old Sabita Chakma’s dead body was recovered from Kamalchari on February 15, but police are yet to arrest anyone, fearing a rise in “tension between Paharis and Bangalees.”

Earlier Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police M Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: “The upazila parishad election was our first priority. Arresting someone could have raised Bangalee-Pahari tensions. So, we are taking our time.”

Rights activist Shipra Bose said the government could not deny its failure in ensuring justice. “Not only in the Chittagong Hill Tracts but rapes are taking place all across the country. However, particularly in CHT, the administration often neglects duty and the government also does not make them accountable and active.”

Bijoy Ketan Chakma, convener of the Manabendra Narayan Larma Memorial Foundation urged the government to raise awareness among the law enforcement agencies particularly those based in CHT.

“If they act in a ethnic way, peace cannot be restored here. They should differentiate between criminal and innocent not between Bangalee and Pahari,” he said.

Actionaid Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Forum, Hill Women’s Federation and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti participated in the human chain formed in protest of the killing.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/law-amp-rights/2014/feb/24/police-urged-act-neutrally

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The Daily Star, February 24, 2014

Arrest killers of Sabita Chakma

Demands Nagorik Samaj

Leaders of Nagorik Samaj, comprising several organisations, yesterday demanded immediate arrest of killers of indigenous woman Sabita Chakma.

They also demanded that perpetrators involved in violence against indigenous women be brought to book, and the government compensate Sabita’s family.

They blamed the government’s failure to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts peace accord for recurrence of such incidents.

On February 15, Sabita, 30, was allegedly murdered after rape near the Chengi river at Chengi Char in Khagrachhari sadar upazila while she was mowing grass for cattle. Her husband and villagers later found her disrobed body.

The husband, Debaratan Chakma, filed a murder case with Khagrachhari Police Station against a trucker Mohammad Nizam and four others. Rights activist Khushi Kabir said a group was trying to suppress the incident.

Last modified: 9:34 am Monday, February 24, 2014

http://www.thedailystar.net/city/arrest-killers-of-sabita-chakma-12728

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New Age, 24 February 2014

Justice demanded for Sabita Chakma killing

Staff Correspondent

Expressing their deep concern over repetition of violence against women in Chittagong Hill Tracts, the rights activists on Sunday demanded justice for the killing of Sabita Chakma.
Sabita, a 30 year woman, was murdered after rape at Chengi Char under Khagrachhari Sadar upazila on February 15.

At a human chain, the speakers  demanded exemplary punishment of the murderers and said  a total of 227 indigenous women were victims of rape, murder, kidnap, sexual harassment and physical torture from 2007 to 2013.

In 2013, as many as 67 tribal women were victims of different incidents of violence. Of them, 15 women were raped, they said at the human chain.

Nagarik Samaj formed the human chain in front of the National Museum.

Addressing the human chain, rights activist Khushi Kabir said the number of non-Muslims in the country is decreasing day by day which is shameful.

She said the main reason of Sabita killing is continued impunity as the government has failed to ensure the rights of the indigenous people.

Khushi Kabir recalled Kalpana Chakma, who was abducted along with her two brothers on June 1996 from her house at Lallyaghona village by the members of Bangladesh Army.

The participants in the human chain urged the government to stop violence against indigenous women and implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Treaty.

http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2014-02-24&nid=84769#.UwrTp6JrHIU