Thousands of people from different social and human rights organisations yesterday formed a kilometre-long human chain at Fulchari upazila protesting against the practice of fatwa and caning of a rape victim.

Organised jointly by district Social Endeavour Groups, Human Rights Parishad, I-okmorcha and Family Repression Resisting Jote, Ilie one-hour-long human chain ended with a protest meeting.

Speakers of the meeting demanded trial of both the rapists and people responsible for the fatwa. They also pointed fingers at some influential villagers who were shielding the accused. The police are yet to take any initiative to arrest the culprits, they added.

Earlier, Madhu Mia and Fariduddin Fakim raped Kanti Khatun, 16, of Fulchari upazila on January 31. On March 24, Fulchari Senior Madrasa Principal Sirajul Islam and Lecturer Aminul Islam sentenced both the accused and the victim to 57 lashes.

Munshi Abdus Samad, Mohsin Ali, Abdur Rashid, Shaju Mia, Mokles and Khoka Mia executed the verdict. The victim Kanti Begum fell unconscious after 51 lashes while Madhu and Fariduddin managed to flee