1. FACT FINDING REPORT
April 2014
PROMOTING RIGHTS AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE ULTRA
POOR IN CHAR LAND AREAS THROUGH DEMOCRATIC LOCAL
GOVERNANCE (PRADG) PROJECT
(Grant Contract: EIDHR/2013/297-038).

2. Fact-Finding Report
Produced in
March 2014
Produced By
Concern Universal, Bangladesh
Manab Mukti Sanstha (MMS), Sirajgonj
Funded by
EIDHR Programme of the European Union (EU)
Team Leader
Shankor Paul
Head, Human Rights Unit, Concern Universal
Fact-Finding Team:
• Jhuma Halder
• Samir Kumar Das
• Mizanur Rahman
• Abdus Sattar
• Rasel Ali.
Acknowledged to:
• All UP representatives who supports us through providing reported information)
• All Police officials of the Police station of Belkuchi, Chowhali, S. Sadar, Shahjadpur
and Kazipur upazila (who supports us through providing reported cases).
• The people in selected Char land areas (who shared information through interaction).
This fact finding report has been produced with the financial assistance of the EIDHR
Programme of the European Union. And, the views or opinion presented herein doesn’t
endorsed by the European Union.
The use and sharing of the information contained in this report is encouraged with
acknowledgement of the source. This report can be downloaded on CUB and MMS website.
2 | P a g e

3. 3 | P a g e

4. Table of contents
Executive Summary ..............................................................................................................................6
Chapter One..........................................................................................................................................7
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................7
1. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................7
1.1 Objectives....................................................................................................................................7
1.2 Rationale......................................................................................................................................7
1.3. Methodology..............................................................................................................................8
1.4. Situation of Monitoring Area......................................................................................................8
Chapter Two........................................................................................................................................10
EXISTING STATUS OF REPORTED COMPLAINTS IN THE UPS.................................................................10
2.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................................10
This chapter is analyzed the reported complaints of the people in the selected UPs. The information
of reported complaints is the presented in line with specific nature of violence to inform the
audience to search future actions. ....................................................................................................10
2.1 Existing status of reported complaints.......................................................................................10
Chapter Three......................................................................................................................................12
EXISTING STATUS OF REPORTED CASES IN THE POLICE STATION........................................................12
2.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................................12
This chapter is analyzed the reported cases of the people in the five police stations. The information
of recorded cases is the presented in line with specific nature of violence to inform the audience to
search future actions. .......................................................................................................................12
3.1 Sirajganj Sadar Police Station:....................................................................................................12
The findings of reported cases reveal that total 76 cases were recorded in the S. Sadar police
station. Off them, 24 cases were related to kidnapping, 22 dowry, 20 rape, 4 sexual exploitation, 2
acid throwing and 1 rape after kidnapping, murder after rape, death for dowry and trafficking
respectively (figure-2). The status also refers that police submitted charge sheet as response to 29
cases, 22 under the investigation and 25 final reports to court (FRT) including 1 with forensic
report. ...........................................................................................................................................12
Figure-2: Total reported cases in the S. Sadar Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)...............................12
3.2 Belkuchi Police Station...............................................................................................................13
Figure-3: Total reported cases in the Belkuchi Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)...............................13
3.3 Shahjadpur Police Station:.........................................................................................................13
Figure-4: Total reported cases in the Shahjadpur Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)..........................14
4 | P a g e

5. 3.4 Chowhali Police Station:............................................................................................................14
.........................................................................................................................................................14
Figure-5: Total reported cases in the Chowhali Police Station (May-Dec. 2013).............................14
3.5 Kazipur Police Station:...............................................................................................................15
According to police record, police submitted charge sheet for 3 cases, final report (FRT) for 2
cases, 6 under the investigation and remaining 1 as dismissed. Under the 12 reported cases, 8
people were defined as accused but there were no found any information about the arrest of the
accused. ........................................................................................................................................15
3.6 Comparative status of reported cases in five Police stations:....................................................15
Chapter Four........................................................................................................................................17
COMPARATIVE FINDINGS....................................................................................................................17
4.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................................17
4.1 Comparative Findings:...............................................................................................................17
4.2 Compare with Other sources of information:............................................................................20
.............................................................................................................................................................20
Chapter Five.........................................................................................................................................21
SUGGESTION AND CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................21
5.0 Introduction:..................................................................................................................................21
5.1 Proposed suggestions of the Char-land people: ........................................................................21
5.2 Proposed suggestions of the Police officials: ............................................................................21
5.3 Proposed suggestions of the UP representatives: .....................................................................21
5.4 Challenges..................................................................................................................................22
5.5 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................22
5 | P a g e

6. Executive Summary
The fact-finding report is as an integral part of the PRADG project. This report is produced
on the basis of information on reported complaints/cases in relation to the specific human
rights violation issues of the Char land people to 30 Union Parishads and five police stations
of Sirajganj district. The process applied a template and checklist to collect necessary
information through interview and interaction with UP representatives and police officials for
last 8 months (May to December, 2013). This also included a section of Char-land people to
extract their perception on the reported complaints/cases.
Major Highlights:
The finding reveals that:
• Only 5 Unions maintained official records on the reported complains out of 30 Unions
in Char land areas of Sirajganj district. It means that 16.67% Unions recorded the
complaints of the local people and they only recorded 47 complaints, which is very
low comparing to people’s perception on prevailing incidences.
• Off the reported complaints to 5 UPs, 21 complaints were related to land conflict
matters, 10 complaints related to dower and maintenance, 6 complaints related to
monetary matter (i.e. breach of verbal contract), 6 complaints related to pressure for
dowry, 2 complaints related to restitution of conjugal rights, 1 related to divorce and 1
complaints related to forcible marriage.
• Off the total 47 reported complaints to UPs, 45 complaints are being resolved by the
UP Salisah system and only 2 complaints were found pending.
• Total 141 cases were reported to 5 police stations (i.e. Sadar, Kazipara, Belkuchi,
Shahjadpur, Chowhali police station).
• Off the total recorded cases, 50 cases were related to repression & murder for dowry,
41 cases related to rape along with rape after kidnaping and murder after rape, 38
cases related to kidnaping of women & girls, 7 cases relation to sexual exploitation, 4
cases related to acid throwing, 1 case related to trafficking.
• The status of the total 141 recorded cases reveals that police were in the process of
investigation for 66 cases, police provided charge sheet for 54 cases, and police
submitted final report (FRT) for 21 cases.
• Local Police identified 107 accused under the 141 recorded cases but no information
is defined on the arrested people as accused.
• The police officials mainly applied three basic laws/Act for the recorded cases, which
are as follows:
- “women and children oppression (prevention) act, 2000 (amendment 2003),
- The Penal Code, 1860 (section, 143, 440, 323,324, 307, 300, 302, 427),
- Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2002 (section-5 & 7).
6 | P a g e

7. Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
1. Introduction
The fact finding report is jointly produced by Concern Universal, Bangladesh and Manab
Mukti Sangtha (MMS) under the PRADG (Promoting Rights and Accessibility of the ultra-
poor people in Charland areas through Democratic Local Governance) project. This report
strategically considered information on the reported complaints and cases of the Char land
people to Union Parishads and police station, aiming to sensitize the institutional authorities
on the issues related to complaints and cases, and enable char-land people to raise their
concerns. Because the ground context of Char-land reveals that more than 63% of ultra-poor
people1
are unable to get access to institutional services due to their geographical isolation,
illiteracy, lack of awareness and confidence to raise or report their issues and unavailability
of service options (in Char-land areas). All these are denying the rights and entitlements of
the ultra-poor people as human being.
Considering that the project has taken an initiative to extract ground information on the
reported complaints and cases, which are related to human rights violation issues to produce a
report for all local service institutions so that they can work together for taking joint action in
advancing rights and access to justice for the ultra-poor people in Char land areas.
1.1 Objectives
The objective of this report is “to inform the local institutions and authorities about the state
of incidences in relation to human rights violation in char-land areas of Sirajganj district to
reinforce local initiatives and actions in advancing people’s rights and access to justice”.
1.2 Rationale
Human rights are commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights which is
applicable everywhere and the same for everyone. The idea of human rights promoting and
making accessible suggests public considerable skepticism and debates about the content,
nature and justifications of human rights to this days. The question of right is philosophical
debate. In char-land, a large section of people, who defined as ultra-poor are completely
detached from the development flow. The existing processes are often denying their rights
and entitlement to survive as human being. This group can be referred with the legal term
“Paupers” (Order – XXXIII, Code of Civil Procedure – 1908) because the paupers are the
1
According to baseline survey information of the PRADG project, September, 2013
7 | P a g e

8. indigent person means not to earn more than 6000 tk. monthly, yearly average 3000 tk.
(Legal Aid Act – 2000), who needs legal aid and other supports to live with their rights and
dignity.
It was observed that the ultra-poor people, particularly women face diverse types of violence
that often denying their rights and dignity. But the reality is that only few incidences are
reported to the respective local institutions (i.e. police station and Union Parishad).
Considering the ground reality, the information on reported complaints and cases were
collected from the local UPs and police stations and analyzed for defining way forward to
improve rights and access of the ultra-poor people to all local service institutions.
1.3. Methodology
The process of fact-finding reporting applied a set of qualitative methods and tools to extract
information on the reported complaints/cases in the UPs and Police stations. A separate data
template was used for collecting recorded cases in the police station and UPs. There is also
applied a checklist for collecting opinion and perception of the ultra-poor groups and civil
society action groups through focus group discussion (FGD) in selected char-land areas.
The collected data/information were then analyzed by using simple statistical techniques and
presented in table and graphical frames to visualize the state of reported cases in relation to
human rights violation of the ultra-poor, particularly women.
1.4. Situation of Monitoring Area
Sirajgonj is the one of char-land concentrated district of Bangladesh. Basically, char-land has
different characteristics in the terms of livelihood, tradition, health and sanitation and social
norms from the main-land. The nature of people is different than the other area people. The
situations of human rights violation in this area are also different. The team defined a diverse
nature of violence in these area, which are related to family matters like restitution of
conjugal rights, divorce, dower, guardianship, forceful marriage, maintenance, land matters
like eviction, forceful land grabbing, violation of financial contracts regarding land selling,
earth cutting, theft, rape, murder after rape, dowry, death for dowry, kidnapping, sexual
exploitation, rape after kidnapping, unnatural offence, trafficking, acid throwing etc.
The ultra-poor people were found with very limited experiences to seek support of police
stations for reporting of their cases. The ultra-poor people have no information on legal aid
and supports for seeking justice. They also noticed that they have fear feeling to visit police
station rather they feel more comfort to report their complaints to local UPs.
8 | P a g e

9. However, as integral part of this fact-finding reporting, the team visited total 30 Union
Parishads and 5 police stations, which are as follows:
SL Sources of Information Status of reported complaints
Upazila Name of UPs Complaints recorded Complaints not recorded
1. S. Sadar Mesra UP
2. Kawakola UP
3. Ratankandi UP
4. Belkuchi Belkuchi Sadar UP
5. Rajapur UP
6. Bardhul UP
7. Chowhali Ghorjan UP
8. Khaspukoria UP
9. Kashkawlia UP
10. Baghutia UP
11. Omorpur UP
12. Sodia Chandpur UP
13. Sthal UP
14. Shahjadpur Beltoli UP
15. Kukni UP
16. Potajia UP
17. Prtjona UP
18. Habibullahnagar UP
19. Sonatoni UP
20. Gala UP
21. Jalalpur UP
22. Kazipur Maijbari UP
23. Natoarpara UP
24. Gandhail UP
25. Shuvogacha UP
26. Nichintapur UP
27. Char Girish UP
28. Monsurnagar UP
29. Tekani UP
30. Khasrajbari UP
SL Name of the Police Station Status of recorded cases
Recorded Non-recorded
1. Sirajganj Sadar
2. Belkuchi
3. Shahjadpur
4. Chowhali
5. Kazipur
9 | P a g e
Information found

10. Chapter Two
EXISTING STATUS OF REPORTED COMPLAINTS IN THE UPS
2.0 Introduction
This chapter is analyzed the reported complaints of the people in the selected UPs. The
information of reported complaints is the presented in line with specific nature of
violence to inform the audience to search future actions.
2.1 Existing status of reported complaints
The existing status of reported complaints reveals that only 5 Unions maintained official
records on the reported complains out of 30 Unions in Char land areas of Sirajganj district. It
means that 16.67% Unions recorded the complaints of the local people and they only
recorded 47 complaints, which is very low comparing to people’s perception on prevailing
incidences.
Off the reported total complaints, 21 complaints were related to land conflict matters, 10
complaints related to dower and maintenance, 6 complaints related to monetary matter (i.e.
breach of verbal contract), 6 complaints related to pressure for dowry, 2 complaints related
to restitution of conjugal rights, 1 related to divorce and 1 complaints related to forcible
marriage (figure-1 and table-1). The status of reported complains noticed that land matters &
conflicts is highly prevalent in char-land areas because of people’s displacement (due to river
erosion, and frequent flooding), land grabbing and verbal contract in land selling and buying
proceedings and controlling of land allocations in newly settled char-land.
Figure-1: Existing status of reported complains in the UPs
10 | P a g e

11. The monetary matters are mostly linked with negligence in repaying loans (from land
owners) and breach of contract. And, the dowry is linked with marriage and while the groom
family failed to provide demanded dowry of the bride family, it often transformed into a
complaints.
The findings of discussion with UP representatives reveals that off the total 47 reported
complaints to UPs, 45 complaints are being resolved by the UP Salisah system and only 2
complaints were found pending. They refers that the people in char-land areas depends on the
complaints resolution process because:
- it requires no money,
- It doesn’t bear any hassle in the
resolution process,
- It promotes win-win situation
among both parties,
- It saves the time,
- It facilitates mutual agreements and
trust.
During discussion with ultra-poor groups and civil society action groups, they noticed that
UP Salish system is functional in Char-land areas but the formal village court system is not
visible here. As the people have very limited scope and access to formal justice system, they
mostly rely on the judgment of UP Salish to resolve their complaints and issues.
Table-1: Existing status of reported complains in the UPs (May to December, 2013)
Trends of violations Name of Unions
Belkuchi Porjana Khash-
kawlia
Khashpukhuria Maijbar
i
Total
Family matter & conflicts 2 1 - 2 5
Land matter 1 4 11 4 1 21
Dowry - 5 - - 1 6
Forceful marriage - 1 - - - 1
Divorce - 1 - - - 1
Dower and Maintenance - - 5 - - 5
monetary Matter - - 6 - 6
Restitution of conjugal
rights
- - 2 - 1 2
Total complaints = 47
11 | P a g e

12. Chapter Three
EXISTING STATUS OF REPORTED CASES IN THE POLICE STATION
2.0 Introduction
This chapter is analyzed the reported cases of the people in the five police stations. The
information of recorded cases is the presented in line with specific nature of violence to
inform the audience to search future actions.
3.1 Sirajganj Sadar Police Station:
The findings of reported cases reveal that total 76 cases were recorded in the S. Sadar police
station. Off them, 24 cases were related to kidnapping, 22 dowry, 20 rape, 4 sexual
exploitation, 2 acid throwing and 1 rape after kidnapping, murder after rape, death for
dowry and trafficking respectively (figure-2). The status also refers that police
submitted charge sheet as response to 29 cases, 22 under the investigation and 25 final
reports to court (FRT) including 1 with forensic report.
According to status, total 83 people were accused under the 76 reported cases. But there was
no information about the arrest of accused.
Figure-2: Total reported cases in the S. Sadar Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)
12 | P a g e

13. 3.2 Belkuchi Police Station
The findings of reported cases reveal that total 15 cases were recorded in the Belkuchi police
station. Off them, 8 cases were related to rape, 3 dowry, 2 acid throwing and 1 kidnaping and
sexual exploitation (figure-3). The status also refers that police submitted charge sheet as
response to 8 cases, 6 under the investigation and 1 under the faming of issue (by court
order).
According to police records, total 17 people were accused in the reported cases but there was
no one arrested under the cases.
Figure-3: Total reported cases in the Belkuchi Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)
3.3 Shahjadpur Police Station:
The findings of reported cases reveal that total 34 cases were recorded in the Shahjadpur
police station. Off them, 12 cases were related to kidnapping, 11 dowry, 7 rape, 3 sexual
exploitation and 1 rape after kidnaping (figure-4). The status also refers that police submitted
charge sheet as response to 13 cases, 15 under the investigation and 6 under the faming of
issue (by court order).
According to police records, total 7 people were accused in the reported cases but there was
no one arrested under the cases.
13 | P a g e

14. Figure-4: Total reported cases in the Shahjadpur Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)
3.4 Chowhali Police Station:
The information of Chowhali police station demonstrates that total 4 cases were recorded
during last eight months (May-December, 2013). Off them, 3 were recorded as rape cases and
another one as kidnaping case (figure-5).
According to police records, police submitted charge sheet for 3 cases and final report to
Court for 1 case. Total 8 people were defined as accused in the recorded cases.
Figure-5: Total reported cases in the Chowhali Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)
14 | P a g e

15. 3.5 Kazipur Police Station:
The information of Kazipur Police station reveals that total 12 cases were reported and off
them dowry issues were the highest prevalent case (8 cases), followed by 2 rape cases, 1
sexual exploitation and 1 kidnaping cases (figure-6).
According to police record, police submitted charge sheet for 3 cases, final report (FRT) for 2
cases, 6 under the investigation and remaining 1 as dismissed. Under the 12 reported
cases, 8 people were defined as accused but there were no found any information about
the arrest of the accused.
Figure-6: Total reported cases in the Kazipur Police Station (May-Dec. 2013)
3.6 Comparative status of reported cases in five Police stations:
The comparative status of the reported cases
clearly refers that the highest number of cases
(76 cases) were recorded in the Sirajganj Sadar
police station, followed by Shahjadpur (34
cases) and Belkuchi police station (15 cases).
During discussion with char-land people, the
noticed the following issues for low reporting of
their incidences to police station:
a) Vulnerable people are often located in remote area, which is 2-3 km far from police
station (particularly Chowhali and Kazipur police station). So visiting police station
for reporting of their cases is always difficult and costly.
15 | P a g e

16. b) Vulnerable people, particularly women have fear feeling about the threat of powerful
perpetrators to be silent.
c) Inadequate response and initiative of police officials to report the incidences of the
vulnerable people.
d) Perception of people that police cases always goes in favor of rich and powerful
people.
Figure-7: Comparative status of reported cases in the police stations (May-Dec. 2013)
16 | P a g e

17. Chapter Four
COMPARATIVE FINDINGS
4.0 Introduction
This chapter presents a comparative finding of the reported complains and cases related to
human rights violation in the UPs and police stations during last 8 months (May to
December, 2013).
4.1 Comparative Findings:
The findings of reported complaints of UPs and 5 police stations total 188 complaints and
cases are recorded during last 8 months (May to December, 2013). Off them, 47 complaints
reported to UPs and remaining 141 cases recorded to five police stations of Sirajganj district
(figure-8).
Figure-8: Total reported complaints and cases during last 8 months (May to Dec. 2013)
If we observe the status of reported complaints in the UPs, it is found that land matters and
conflicts are the highest reported issues, followed by dowry, family matters and dower &
maintenance issues (table-2).
17 | P a g e

18. Table-2: Comparative features of the reported complaints in the UPs
Reported complaints in the UPs Total
Land matter 21
Dowry 6
Monitory Matter 6
Family matter 5
Dower & Maintenance 5
Restitution of conjugal rights 2
Forceful marriage 1
Divorce 1
Total 47
The discussion with char-land people reveals that they noticed that they have to face frequent
flood, river erosion and other natural disaster that often forces them to displace from their
habitual places. Most often the displaced or newly settled people face to face land conflict
and disputes in relation to land that turns into a complaint. As the UP is a key local
institution, the people prefers to go to the UPs. After that the UP representatives take
initiative to resolve the matters with mutual agreement through Salish process. The dowry
and family matters are also a concern in Char-land areas that reported to the selected UPs.
The UPs followed similar mechanism to resolve it.
When the team discussed with char-land people, particularly women, they noticed a numbers
of issues and incidences. These are as follows:
o family matters including wife beating,
slapping, using vulgar words,
humiliation, quarrelling between
husband and wife, second marriage of
husband;
o Pressure for dowry;
o Early marriage;
o Dower & maintenance
o Landlessness;
o Pressure of powerful people
o Exclusion from governmental safety net
o Restriction on mobility etc.
They also noticed that they don’t know where and how they will report their complaints and
cases. A large section of women mentioned that they don’t feel interest to report their
incidence considering the future of their children, social stigma and family pressure. The
family and social context often keep them silent. Women mostly prefer to report their issues
and complaints verbally to women UP members for seeking solution. Sometimes they
become victim of Fatwa in respect of dissolution of marriage. If they protect to the
18 | P a g e

19. perpetrators they again become victim of eve-teasing. They do not get VGF card and very
few people do marriage registration in Kazi office. They know the marriage registration
process but they do not officially register their marriage.
Table-3: Comparative features of the reported cases in the police stations
Features of reported
cases in the police
station
Name of Police Stations
TotalBelkuchi Sadar Shahjadpur Chowhali Kazipur
Dowry 3 22 13 8 46
Rape 8 20 6 3 2 39
Kidnapping 1 24 12 1 1 39
Sexual exploitation 1 4 2 1 8
Acid throwing 2 2 4
Rape after kidnapping 0 1 1 2
Murder after rape 0 1 1
Death for dowry 0 1 1
Trafficking 0 1 1
Total 15 76 34 4 12 141
The feature of reported cases reveals that total 141 cases recorded in the five Police Stations.
The highest cases are reported as related to dowry (46 cases), followed by 39 rape cases, 39
kidnapping and 8 sexual exploitation (table-3).
According to police information, dowry is defined as the most important problem in Char
land area. It relates with various social problems and conflict. Due to extreme nature of
poverty, the bride family members always demands dowry at the time of marriage for
improving their livelihood and marital expenditures. When the groom family failed to fulfill
the dowry demand, it creates another problem for the newly married women. The problems
are often turning into family conflict and result in severe torture and certainly death.
Rape and kidnapping is another major problem in Char-land areas. People noticed that when
the whole family takes shelter of another family due to their displacement in emergency
situation, the unmarried girls or teenage girls becomes the victim of rape and kidnapping.
Most often the victim family forces to resolve the issue through a mutual arrangement with
the influence of powerful perpetrators and thinking future and security of the victim. Only
few cases report to the police.
The analysis of police cases clearly noticed that the police officials mainly applied three
basic laws, which are given below:
- “Women and Children Oppression (Prevention) Act, 2000 (amendment 2003),
- The penal code, 1860 (section, 143, 440, 323,324, 307, 300, 302, 427),
- Acid Crime Prevention Act, 2002 (section-5 & 7). ]
19 | P a g e

20. 4.2 Compare with Other sources of information:
According to recently published report of the district Human Rights Forum, Sirajganj2
, total
144 cases are recorded as issues related to violence against women in 2013 (figure-9). The
status reveals that rape is the highest occurring incidence in Sirajganj district, followed by
murder (27), physical torture (23), suicide (19) and sexual exploitation (9).
Figure-9: Nature of violence against women in Sirajganj District in 2013.
On the other hand, the overall status of crimes and human rights violation is very alarming in
Sirajganj district. Total 462 incidences were reported in 2013 and off them 144 incidences
were directly related to violence against women issues. The comparative status between 2012
and 20133
also reveals the increasing trend of rape, dowry and acid throwing that requires
more attention in reducing the trend of human rights violation issues.
2
Page 53 of the Human Rights Situation, 2013, produced by the Humna Rights Forum, Sirajganj
3
Page 14 of the Human Rights Situation, 2013, produced by the Humna Rights Forum, Sirajganj
20 | P a g e

21. Chapter Five
SUGGESTION AND CONCLUSION
5.0 Introduction:
This chapter demonstrates a numbers of suggestions of the char-land people, police officials
and UP representatives as way forward to advance people’s access to legal system and
justice.
5.1 Proposed suggestions of the Char-land people:
During discussion with char-land people, particularly the UPG and CSAG members they
proposed a set of suggestions for resolution of local problems. These are as follows:
o Provide more knowledge and information on legal proceedings and ways to seek
of justice;
o Activation of the village court in char-based UPs;
o More awareness prevailing issues, such as: early marriage, dower & maintenance,
impact of dowry, torture so that people can be alert and sensitized;
o Need inclusion of most vulnerable families, particularly women with the
alternative livelihood options so that they can overcome their family poverty;
- The UPG and CSAG members should be well equipped with advance knowledge
on the legal issues related to the Muslim Family Ordinance, 1985 and the
Domestic violence act, 2010, the women and children oppression (prevention) act,
2000 (amended in 2003) and the Acid Control Act, 2012 along with legal aid
support provisions.
5.2 Proposed suggestions of the Police officials:
During discussion, the respective police officials proposed a set of suggestions for resolution
of local problems. These are as follows:
o Arrange training for the police officials on village court and human rights issues;
o Need more sensitization of local people to improve their confidence in reporting of
their cases (to police station);
o Need more interaction between the police officials and char-land people to create
trustful working relations.
5.3 Proposed suggestions of the UP representatives:
During discussion, the respective UP representatives proposed a set of suggestions for
resolution of local problems. These are as follows:
21 | P a g e

22. o Requires the technical support in updating the complaints recording formats/registrar.;
o Organize a comprehensive workshop to make them well-equip and knowledgably in
filing complaints, maintain records, delivering notice to opposite parties and setting of
dates for mediation.
5.4 Challenges
During fact-finding reporting and collecting information from the sources, the team defined a
numbers of challenges, which are as follows:
o UPs are not using any prescribed format and registrar for recording of the complaints;
o No records on reported complaints are found in 25 UPs that hindrance the process of
fact-findings reporting;
o UPs resolved a numbers of cases (through Salish and mutual arrangement) based on
verbal complaints;
o UP don’t make any investigation on the reported complaints, they mostly depends on
the facts of verbal complaints in resolution process.
o When the complainants displaced from their inhabitants (due to natural disaster), UPs
are being unable to find out the valid address of both parties.
o According to police officials, there are some cases initially reported as kidnapping
case (that often relates with the affairs of teenage boys and girls and their love
marriage without any evidence) but after returning of teenage boys and girls in the
bride family, the case turn into a dowry case (due to pressure of teenage boys), and in
such kind of cases the police officials faces problems in application of the appropriate
section of laws.
o Police officials also noticed that sometimes the parents of raped girl files the case as
rape case then the parents arrange the marriage with that perpetrator (due to social
pressure and mutual process), it often creates difficulties for the police officials to
investigate the case and submit the FIR in time.
5.5 Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that the problems are diverse and interlinked with a numbers of
issues. In spite of difficulties, the people in char-land areas mostly depend on the response of
the UP representatives and police officials to seek justice in relation to their complaints and
cases. A large section of people in char-land areas are not well aware on their rights and legal
proceedings to report their issues and complaints in the respective institutions. They need
special support to improve their legal knowledge and confidence to raise their concerns and at
the same time the institutional authorities should have to be more responsive to serve the
people, who are in problems. It requires working together for a wider impact on the whole
char-land communities.
22 | P a g e