A three-year-old girl was reportedly raped on Thursday afternoon in Bakalia area of Chittagong, at a time when nationwide demonstrations continue over the recent murder of schoolgirl Ramisa.
The incident took place at a building named ‘Bismillah Mansion’ on Abu Jafar Road in the Chairmanghata area of Bakalia.
According to local sources, the child was sleeping alone at home while her mother, a garment factory worker, was at work and her father, a rickshaw puller, was also away.
A 32-year-old man, identified as an employee of a local shop, allegedly entered the residence and violated the minor girl.
Upon learning of the incident, local residents apprehended the suspect and locked him inside a room in a local madrasa complex.
The situation turned volatile when police arrived to take the accused into custody. The agitated crowd refused to hand him over, demanding the right to carry out “people’s justice” themselves.
Witnesses reported several rounds of scuffles and physical confrontations between the police and the locals.
Due to the intensity of the unrest, three to four police vehicles were forced to retreat from the scene, and the area remained outside of law enforcement’s control for a prolonged period.
The victim has been admitted to the One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Medical professionals have described her physical condition as extremely critical.
As of the latest reports, police are continuing their efforts to pacify the local community and bring the accused through the formal legal process. Extreme public resentment remains high in the area.
