ASK strongly condemns and expresses grave concern over the recent brutal attack on a female Union Parishad member at Mobarakpur union of Chapainawabganj district.

On 22 January 2014 a gang of miscreants attacked Nurjahan Begum at Chapainawabganj and severed tendons of her hands and legs along with indiscriminate stabbing. She is undergoing treatment in a hospital with very critical condition. ASK expresses grave concern on the heinous attack on Nurjahan Begum.

It has also been reported that she has been attacked by the local activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party out of their suspicion that she was involved with the arrest of another UP member at Mobarakpur Union.

We have been observing the recent progress in participation of women in the local government and other parts of administration. However, this kind of incident is surely a backlash for women’s empowerment guaranteed by the constitution of People’s Republic of Bangladesh as well as the relevant international human rights standards.

Such incident on a female elected representative, who was not able to escape from the atrocious attack indicates the deteriorating law and order situation of the country.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) urges the government to take immediate legal action against the perpetrators and provide exemplary punishment to stop the recurrence of such incidents.