This site is for our dear friend Rumana to send her all our love and support to help her overcome the horrible attack she suffered. Everyone is welcome to participate in any way we can. It is now confirmed that Rumana will not regain her sight (as of Jul 18, 2011). Please feel free to submit your audio messages of support to Rumana. Instructions under “Audio Messages”.
Rumana Monzur was completing a master’s degree in political science at The University of British Columbia. In May 2011, she went home to Bangladesh to visit her family and work on her thesis. Unfortunately, she only went back to her family to lose the most precious gift from life, her eyesight. On June 5, as her husband found out that she wished to continue her studies and obtained a scholarship to do a PhD, he brutally attacked her in front of their 5 year-old daughter. He tried to gouge her eyes out with his fingers, chewed off part of her nose and bit her face.
Everyone who knew Rumana describes her as a kind, sweet and caring person. Someone who is extremely devoted to her family and observant of the Muslim religion.
We are coming together to voice our rejection of this horrible act of violence against our dear friend Rumana and call for justice.
Rumana,
I am so sorry this terrible attack happened to you. I wish you physical, emotional and psychological healing and lots of support from family and friends. I wish you and your daughter continued love and support for each other and healing for her as well given what she witnessed. I wish you continued courage and strength for the challenges ahead of you and success in overcoming obstacles and forging a new life.
You have my utmost admiration for who you are and for the woman that you will grow to be in fighting through and overcoming this horrible tragedy, don’t let the loss of your sight crush your spirit.
with warmth and respect,
Karon Trenaman
How to donate to Rumana Monzur’s family: http://ow.ly/5oRff
Dear Rumana,I feel extremely angry and frustrated when I came to know your tragic story.I wish I can be beside you right now,to help you morally,emotionally and every other way.You are a beautiful,intelligent,smart and very strong woman.Please…please don’t break down.We all women in Canada,specially in BC and Bangladesh with you.
Being a Bangladeshi woman residing in Vancouver,I want to help you in every possible way according my ability.You will be in my every morning pray.May ALLAH give you the strength to overcome all the pain,lose and physical/mental insult to get from that Bastard.May ALLAH give him right punishment for his deed….EYE FOR AN EYE/NOSE FOR A NOSE.Nothing else.May ALLAH let him suffer as blind person.AMEEN
I am writing from Washington DC, USA. I first came across this apalling news from one Bengali TV channel one day after she suffered the assault from her husband. Myself a former student of IR at Dhaka University I first met her through two of her colleagues at the University Teachers’ Lounge some years ago. They all were very generous to me and ,as far as I recollect, gave me a nice treat that occasion. It was none of our imagination she would be at the wrong end of such a tragic turn in personal life!
I pray to the Almightly for Rumana’s earliest recovery and progress.
Dear Rumana,
I feel extremely sorry, angry and frustrated for the horrible tragedy happened to you.
I wish complete physical, psychological and emotional healing for you….please be strong…you’re not alone ….you’ve all the love and support from all over the world…you’ll survive and healed…wish you courage and strength to face the challenges and difficult time now and ahead and successfully survive for a new fruitful life for you and you daughter…never doubt about continuing and finishing your education, with eye sight or not, don’t let your spirit be diminished to survive and build a meaningful future…technology will help you…all our prayers, love and support are with you…almighty will grant our prayers and miracle will happen…Amen!
Rumana,
There are no words for how painful this all must be for you. I’m also praying for you and your daughter and am pleased so many people are banning together and supporting and encouraging you. Hopefully you will make it back to Canada soon, but whatever happens may God Almighty use this whole horrific thing for good one way or another. I wish I could take away your pain, I cannot imagine how betrayed you must feel. May God carry you through this shocking time for He loves you so!
Elselinde Michek
My wife and I attended the rally today (Sunday, June 26) against domestic abuse. I am just curious to know if there has been thought given to the possibility of having Rumana and her daughter move to Canada and live here on a permanent basis? Given the possibility of impaired eyesight – and I am not being presumptious here – Canada would be much more conducive for her and her daughter to live in. Canada has infrastructure that Bangladesh does not have and Rumana might very well find it easier to live here together with ehr daughter. Perhaps some movement to try and persuade the Canadian government to grant permanent residency status to Rumana and her daughter?
Hi Vikram,
One of the reasons why we’re collecting donations for Rumana is to give her a range of options. If she would like to seek advanced medical treatment for her eyes, finish her degree in Vancouver, or move here with her family etc., we want to make it financially viable for her to do so. At the moment, I believe the immediate concern is to keep them safe and to seek medical help. As for the steps to take later on, they will be taken according to Rumana’s wishes. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Please sign both online petitions (see “Support” page), and if you can spare some time to write to the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Ottawa (also see Support page), it will greatly aid Rumana’s case. Thank you!!
This story brings tears to my eyes each time I hear about it in the news — my heart goes out to Rumana and her daughter and I wish them both strength as they cope in this terrible time.
I can only hope that Rumana can overcome this tragedy and spread her story to others and teach them through awareness. It will be a long journey ahead and I pray for her and her daughter.
Dear Rema
I love you and I am praying for a miracle that you might see again, and both of us knows that this is possible! lots of love,
Indi