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The shocked parents learned that Shafikul's stepbrother and cousins had murdered the boy in order to acquire the properties that Shafikul would have inherited. Sakerun lodged a murder case with the police, seeking justice. The police investigator, Subinspector Nazrul Islam, forced her to pay bribes of 35,000 takas (US$512) on two occasions, promising a "good report" and bringing murder charges against the alleged perpetrators. Meanwhile, the same officer released two arrested suspects from police custody after receiving 70,000 takas (US$1,024). The investigator, according to Sakerun's lawyers, produced a report that made their acquittal possible.
Following Sakerun's objection, a new investigating officer, Subinspector Sahabuddin, conducted further investigations into the case based on a court order. The second investigating officer followed his predecessor, narrowing the chance of attaining justice for Sakerun.
The court filed charges against the alleged perpetrators despite the faulty and biased investigation report. The public prosecutors in Narayanganj District allegedly played a role against the complainant and extended a friendly hand to the alleged perpetrators due to the "give and take" instincts between the parties. Justice was consequently delayed and denied.
A journalist was kind enough to help Sakerun lodge an application with the Ministry of Home Affairs to transfer the murder case to the Speedy Tribunal of Dhaka-4 as a "sensational case" from the local session court in order to avoid irregularities and malpractice.
As the days passed, the woman realized that seeking justice was not an easy task in Bangladesh. Sakerun continued her quest for justice in spite of numerous threats, attacks and the ransacking of her house, damage to her gardens and orchards as well as threats against the prosecution witnesses in her case, who were believed to be honest and firm before the court.
Sakerun spent approximately 1 million takas (more than US$14,600) to satisfy the lawyers, prosecutors, police, bench clerks and other court staff in addition to her transportation and food costs during the prolonged trial. It was a great opportunity for everyone to exploit this justice-seeker. On the other hand, the accused, who were bailed out of jail by the court, arrogantly told her that they had spent a huge amount of money to purchase a verdict in their favor.
After more than seven years, Sakerun's struggle for justice ended Sunday with the acquittal of all the alleged perpetrators except her stepson, who was given life imprisonment. However, her lawyers are afraid that Mokhlesur Rahman, the convicted man, might also be acquitted by the High Court Division as soon as the appeal is adjudicated in the higher court due to inconsistencies in the investigation reports and prosecution process.
When Sakerun heard the verdict in the court, she cried for more than an hour. The elderly lady was counting her total losses: her only son, who was her most affectionate and dearest child and would have been her support in her old age; more than seven years of her life; more than 1 million takas through selling her assets and properties; and faith in the judicial system of the country.
Sakerun does not know that last Thursday the judiciary of Bangladesh was officially freed from the executive branch for the first time in the history of the country. The Supreme Court, headed by the chief justice, is now able to guide and control the whole judiciary. The nation was forced to wait more than three decades to witness an independent judiciary, separated from the executive branch of government.
There are now celebrations and high-sounding speeches occurring throughout the country. Many people are praising the present military-backed government for a "great job." How many of them, though, are truly concerned about the judiciary, which inherits a record of immense despair, frustration and irregularities that have become institutionalized in the legal sector?
There are thousands of Sakeruns in Bangladesh who curse the existing system and the professionals for their exploitive nature. People hardly dare to hope for a better system. Shall the judges, magistrates, lawyers, prosecutors, investigators and related professionals, as well as the policymakers of the state, not feel ashamed if they produce more Sakeruns in the country? Will they continue to create more suffering like that Sakerun had to endure? Will there be any change in the nature, practices, commitments and mindsets of the legal professionals involved in upholding the rule of law and justice in Bangladesh? If not, the present celebration is premature, and the military-backed government has not done a "great job."
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(Rater Zonaki is the pseudonym of a human rights defender living in Sylhet in Bangladesh who has been working on human rights issues in the country for more than a decade and who was a journalist in Bangladesh in the 1990s.)
