A helpless father fell victim to a brutal attack while attempting to protect his daughter's honor and self-respect. Protesting the harassment of his daughter, he was severely injured when the stalker's brother attacked him with a sharp weapon and an iron rod. He is currently fighting for his life at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
The gruesome incident took place on Thursday (October 15) night at Char Laxmiganj village in Char Majlishpur Union under Sonagazi Upazila of Feni.
According to local sources, Taspiya Akhter, daughter of Monowarul Islam from the Kazi Moulvi Bari area of Char Laxmiganj village, is a 7th-grade student at the local Char Laxmiganj Nazeria Fazil Madrasa. While commuting to the madrasa by auto-rickshaw, an auto-driver named Mohammad Farooq—son of Abdul Awal from the Basar Hafez Bari in the same village—had been continuously subjecting her to obscene gestures and indecent proposals. Tormented by this persistent harassment, the girl eventually stopped attending madrasa and informed her family.
Upon hearing his daughter's ordeal, the father, Monowarul Islam, went to the madrasa principal, Md. Eliyas, on Wednesday afternoon and explained the situation in detail. The principal immediately summoned the auto-driver Farooq, rebuked him severely, and issued a stern warning. However, the stalker's family refused to accept this arbitration. As the matter spread throughout the locality, Farooq's brother, Tarek, became enraged. On Thursday evening, finding Monowarul Islam alone in the Jorba Pukur area of the upazila, Tarek launched an ambush on him. He repeatedly struck Monowarul across his body and specifically targeted his head with an iron rod and local weapons, leaving him severely bleeding and unconscious.
Locals rescued him in critical condition and first rushed him to the Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex. As his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Feni Sadar Hospital and subsequently shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital later that night on the advice of attending doctors.
In tears, the victim's paternal aunt, Fatema Akhter, said, "That driver Farooq kept giving obscene proposals to my niece. Out of fear, the girl stopped going to madrasa. My brother was forced to inform the principal. Was that his crime? They smashed my brother's head. He is constantly writhing in severe pain. We have informed the police, and as soon as my brother recovers a bit, we will file a formal case."
Regarding the incident, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sonagazi Model Police Station, Abul Hashem, stated that police were dispatched to the scene immediately upon receiving news of the attack. Strict legal action will be taken against the perpetrators as soon as a written complaint is received from the victim's family.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Md. Fakhrul Islam, Feni, Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
