Bangladesh woman human rights defender Mariyam Akhtar Pakhi and her family, who were physically assaulted in their home in Narayanganj district by local leaders of Awami League, the ruling party of Bangladesh, are forced to live in a rented house and have been unable to return to their residence due to persistent threats by the assailants.
Mariyam Akhtar Pakhi, headmistress of Mayadwip Shishu Patshala, a school for children belonging to low-income households, in particular those coming from the fishingcommunities in Mayaswip island in Nunertek village. The school was founded by the local social organization Subornogram Foundation in 2007 with the intention of providing free education to vulnerable children.
January 22, the local leader, Mohammad Hashem, along with at least 20 men armed with knives, hockey sticks and other weapons, forcefully entered her residence around 8:45 pm, and physically assaulted her and her family members. She and her elderly mother, two brothers and her infant daughter were severely injured in the attack.
The men also looted the household and took away gold ornaments and 50,000 Bangladeshi Taka in cash, and set fire to the house.Witnesses have also observed some men standing guard outside the woman human rights defender’s original residence. She said that the school had been receiving various threats from the local leaders to shut it down. She believes that the attack on her and her family is a result of continuing the school’s operations despite the threats.
This is not the first time that human rights members associated with Mayadwip Shishu Patshala have come under attack. The school building faces the threat of collapsing due to erosion by the River Meghna, in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, which is directly linked to the sand mining.
It has been reported that Mohammad Hashem is involved in illegal sand mining on Mayadwip island, putting the school building at further risk of destruction. Due to the school’s continues operations, it has become very difficult for Mohammad Hashem and his accomplices to carry out illegal mining in the area.
From 2010 to 2013, residents of Mayadwip had participated in a movement to save their island against illegal sand mining. They were led by Shahed Kayes, founder of the school, poet and human rights defender. The movement was successful in obtaining a Supreme Court order against sand mining in the area that threatens the lives of the inhabitants of Mayadwip.
Since then, Shahed Kayes has faced multiple threats and attacks by Mohammad Hashem and other local leaders of Awami League who have been engaged in illegal sand mining in the area. In 2013, Front Line Defenders (FLD) also issued an urgent appeal against the attacks faced by human rights defender Shahed Kayes.
FLD strongly condemns the attack on woman human rights defender Mariyam Akhter Pakhi and her family, as it believes it to be in response to her legitimate human rights work to provide education to children from low-income households, as well as her work challenging illegal mining.
It also deeply concerned about the ongoing threats against Mariyam Akhter Pakhi and her family, which have made it extremely difficult for the woman human rights defender to return to her original residence and endangered her, and her familiies, security and well-being.
It urged the relevant authorities of Bangladesh to immediately ensure the protection and well-being of woman human rights defender Mariyam Akhter Pakhi and her family, as well as Shahed Kayes, and assist them to safely return to their original residence in Mayadwip Island, Sonargaon, Narayanganj district;
