An eight-year-old girl is in critical condition after allegedly being raped in Rajbari’s Sadar upazila, with her family alleging that an influential local group tried to suppress the incident.
The suspect, Saiful Khan, 50, is a resident of the same village.
According to the victim’s family, the incident took place around 6:30am on Thursday when the child left her house. They alleged that Saiful dragged her into a nearby orchard and raped her. Several neighbours who witnessed the incident later informed the family.
The girl’s family alleged that an influential group in the area subsequently threatened them and prevented them from reporting the incident or seeking medical treatment for the child.
After spending five days without proper treatment, the girl’s condition worsened on Monday evening. Relatives then took her to Rajbari Sadar Hospital.
Anup Kumar Biswas, a medical officer at the hospital’s emergency department, said the child was in critical condition.
She was placed under close observation, the physician added.
The victim’s father said he would file a case and demanded exemplary punishment for the suspect.
Advocate Tapan of the Rajbari District Bar Association condemned the alleged attempt to suppress the incident and the delay in ensuring medical treatment for the child.
He called for legal action against both the suspect and those who allegedly sought to cover up the incident.
Rajbari Sadar Police Station Officer-in-charge Uttam Kumar Ghosh said police were looking into the allegations and that legal action would be taken once a formal complaint was filed.
“No offender will be spared regardless of influence,” he said.
