The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has formed a five-member committee to investigate the recent incident of rape of two private university students in a four-star hotel in Banani. Shafat Ahmed, the alleged rapist who is the son of a rich and influential jeweller, his body guards, and his driver, are yet to be arrested. Shafat invited the two girls to the Raintree Hotel to attend his birthday bash on March 28, through another girl who's a common friend. After the two girls were raped, they were locked up in a hotel room.
Later, the girls went to the Banani police station where they were reportedly harassed and the police were initially reluctant to receive their complaints. The girls also complained that they were threatened
that the video of their rape would be uploaded in social media platforms and they would face serious consequences if they inform police. They were also stalked by Shafat’s men, the two girls alleged.
Finally, when the incident was reported in the media, the police received the complaint. However, prime accused Shafat, his friend Naeem Ashraf and others named in the complaint have not been arrested yet. Shafat sent his driver and bodyguard to take the girls to the hotel in Banani on March 28 and raped them in a room.
An NHRC release has said that its chairman Kazi Reajul Huq has formed the committee following reports that the police are making no effort in nabbing the accused in the alleged rape case. Huq described the police’s delay in accepting the case as a gross violation of human rights. The committee will submit its report within 15 days after visiting the necessary places and interrogating the persons concerned.
The committee members are—Mohammad Nazrul Islam, convenor and full-time member of NHRC, Nurunnahar Osmany, honorary member, HRC, Enamul Huq Choudhury, honorary member, NHRC, Sharifuddin and M. Robiul Islam. The NHRC members have already spoken to the victims.