A world of fear

"> China Akhtar, who took refuge at the house of her elder brother Taiyeb Ali in Saidpur of Pirojpur district, poses with first daughter Riva. Photo: StarOn October 1, 2013 a report came out in The Daily Star titled “Peril of being a girl child”. The report brought out the still existent perils of medieval mindset in our society the girl child faces. A young woman named China Akther helplessly took refuge at the house of her elder brother to save herself and her four-year-old daughter from the child's father who allegedly killed their three-month-old daughter on September 14, 2013.
On September 16, China filed a case with Saidpur police station accusing her husband Rabiul of stealing and killing their three-month-old daughter.
China alleged that after filing of the case, her husband over mobilephone threatened to make her childless by killing the other daughter. Feeling unsafe, she took shelter at her elder brother's house at Chawra village.
China Akhtar, at the age of 17, was married with Rabiul Islam, 30, a carpenter of Mollapara village of the Saidpur Upazilla.
According to China Akther, after birth of their first daughter Riva Akhtar, now 4, her husband had become very unhappy and wanted to hand over the baby to any childless couple. And when she gave birth to a girl child again, Rabiul got furious and repeatedly threatened to kill the baby.
Now more that a month has, police is yet to arrest Rabiul while he continues threatening China and her brother Taiyeb Ali. Tiyeb Ali and his family members remain watchful day and night to ensure safety of the girl child.
In the meantime, Rabiul also filed a case against China accusing her of the murder of their child. Family members of China Akther told that Rabiul filed the case to intimidate China Akther futher and delay his arrest.
Unfortunately, we have to say this is one of many stories showing how unsafe our society is for a girl child.

This follow up is prepared with the help of our Nilphamari correspondent.