A young woman named Momela of a poor family from village Laghalia

Source: Daily Prothom Alo

Date: April 30, 2007

Name of victim: Momela

Location: Gazipur

Fact: A young woman had to leave her house under pressure of Fatwabaz



Overview of Fact:

A young woman named Momela of a poor family from village Laghalia, Gazipur, used to cook for workers of a poultry farm. During this time she developed intimacy with a worker named Bikash of that farm, consequently she became pregnant. Moreover on March 7, 2007 she gave birth to a boy. The influential Fatwabaz of village called on a number of shalish on the basis of incident. Neverthless the shalish did not work out, as the farm worker Bikash was absent in the shalish. On 7th April 07 some Fatwabaz went to Momela’s house and ordered them not to get out of their house anymore and mix with any one of the area as they were spoiling social values of the village. As a result of this decision Momela’s family became jobless and isolated from the village, moreover, the family was starving for long time and no one came to help them. In this situation Momela finally decided to leave the village for good in order to release her family from this inhuman sufferings.



Statement of the parties:

BNWLA fact finding team visited the place with the reporter of ‘Daily Star’. They met Momela’s elder brother Matin on the way and visited Momela’s house. Momela’s sister in law informed them that10/12 years before, Momela got married to a person named Mannan from Thana Bhalua, district Mymansing. Momela’s husband used to live in her house however, one day, Mannan stole some money from the house and left Momela for good. Momela’s sister-in-law also told us that Momela used to work as a cook at a farmhouse called ‘Agro Aqua Enterprise Limited’. While working at poultry farm Momela met a Hindu boy named Bikash from Lalmonirhat since then the boy used to come to their house.



Momela’s elder brother Matin told them that some influential figures of that area named Habibullah Mridha, Ashraf Ali Matbar, Jamer Uddin, Bulbul, Nur Islam, Alamgir, Ramzan Ali, and Alam came to Momela’s house for shalish but as Rumi, the manager of poultry farm did not attain to the shalish and at last it was dismissed. Momela’s brother Matin also told fact finding team that these influential figures declared them as outcast of the village. After being outcast in the village they became angry with Momela and her mother Majida, as a result without telling any one Momela and her mother left their house on 26th of April before sunrise. Momela’s brother assumed that now a days she is living in her uncle’s place at Sribordi, district Sherpur.



The fact finding team had conversation with one of the Fatwabaz named Ashraf Ali Matbar. He completely denied about Fatwa and told that they went to Momela’s house to ask about the father of the child. However, Momela confessed that the boy was Bikash who promised to convert Muslim and marry her.

As they communicated to the woman welfare office regarding this subject the duty officer told that they were aware of the incident but as A.D.C was not present they could not took any initiative regarding the matter. They also told that no one from victim’s side came to them seeking for help.



Afterward, they went to Gazipur thana and had word with second officer Mamun. He told us that no one filed complain regarding this subject however, they will take action only when any one files complain in thana.



Comment:

After discussing the whole incident and taking statements from different persons it is clearly vivid that Momela gave birth to a boy on the basis of relationship with farm worker Bikash. Although Momela had to tolerate all torturing by the influential Fatwabaz, where as Bikash did not face any sufferings. Practicing Fatwa is an unlawful act of Fatwabaz which breaks the prevailing law of the country. The Government should take necessary steps to stop the activities of Fatwabaz.