Incidents of ‘rape, attempted rape’ reported in four districts

Police arrested the accused in connection with incidents reported from Chuadanga, Jashore and Cumilla, while another allegation in Kushtia triggered controversy after local influential figures allegedly tried to settle the matter through village arbitration.

In Chuadanga, police have arrested a young man in connection with the alleged rape of a 71-year-old woman in Damurhuda upazila.

The accused – Tarikul Islam, 20, son of Sirajul Islam of Ibrahimpur village – was arrested in a drive in the School Mor area of the village in the early hours of Monday.

According to police, the incident took place on May 20 in the Mender Math area of Ibrahimpur village.

The elderly woman had reportedly gone to visit her daughter at Kolabari village earlier that day. While returning home in the afternoon carrying fish and curry given by her daughter, she was allegedly approached by Tarikul near Ibrahimpur Park.

Police said the accused offered to help carry her bag home and accompanied her.

When they reached the Mender Math area, he allegedly raped the woman.

Following the incident, the woman filed a case at Damurhuda Model Police Station.

Officer-in-Charge of the police station Sheikh Mesbah Uddin said police launched an immediate operation after the case was filed and arrested the accused.

In Jashore, police have arrested a youth in connection with the rape of a nine-year-old girl at Sagardari village in Keshabpur upazila.

The accused was identified as Jayanta Biswas, 18, son of Shyamal Biswas of the village.

According to police and locals, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon when the Class-IV girl went to Jayanta’s house to watch television. The accused allegedly lured the child and raped her.

The girl returned home crying and informed her family members of the incident.

The family immediately reported the matter to the police, who arrested Jayanta from the Sagardari area.

Confirming the arrest, Sub-Inspector Shamim Hossain, In-Charge of Chingra Police Camp, said, “Jayanta Biswas has been arrested on charges of raping the minor girl. The child is now under police custody. Legal action is underway in this regard.”

In Kushtia, a Class-IV schoolboy was allegedly raped by the caretaker of a mango orchard when he went to pick mangoes there in Kumarkhali upazila on Sunday morning.

The accused is Md Wahed Ali, 55, son of late Rajab Ali Biswas of Tarapur village.

According to locals, the boy went to the field with goats and later entered the orchard to collect mangoes. The accused allegedly raped him there.

The boy later narrated the incident to his mother.

The accused initially denied the allegation but later admitted it.

Local influential figures pressured the family to settle the matter through a salish (village arbitration), which was scheduled for Monday evening.

However, police foiled arbitration following information, said Inspector (Investigation) of Kumarkhali Police Station Md Amirul Islam.

He said a team of police has gone to the spot.

In Cumilla, a shopkeeper has allegedly tried to rape a 12-year-old boy inside his shop in Daudkandi upazila.

A court on Monday sent the accused – Delwar Hossain, 43, a resident of Uttar Rainagar village in the upazila – to jail after police arrested him on Sunday in connection with the incident that took place on May 18.

Police said the victim, a student of Class-VI, went to Delwar’s shop on May 18 to buy chips.

However, he allegedly took the boy inside the shop, closed the shutters and attempted to rape him.

As the boy started crying, locals rushed to the scene and rescued him. However, the accused managed to flee.

The victim was taken to the One-Stop Crisis Centre of Cumilla Medical College Hospital on May 23 and the victim’s father filed a case at Daudkandi Model Police Station.

Police arrested the accused from a cattle market at Kalasona Bazar on Sunday afternoon, reports UNB.