A 9-year-old girl has been allegedly raped in Sarail upazila of Brahmanbaria, according to police and family sources.
The victim was admitted to Brahmanbaria General Hospital on Saturday night. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon.
The girl is the daughter of Saudi expatriate Md Alamgir Mia of Telikanda Uttarpara village under Sarail upazila. She studies in the maktab section of a local madrasa. The accused, Shahid Mia, son of Jamal Uddin from the same area, has been absconding since the incident.
According to the victim’s family, the child was playing near her home on Saturday afternoon when the accused lured her with the promise of buying chips. He then took her to a secluded place and allegedly raped her.
The family said the accused threatened to kill the child if she disclosed the incident. Later, he reportedly took her to a river, bathed her and left her near her home. The child later fell ill and informed her family, after which she was taken to hospital. The family demanded his immediate arrest and exemplary punishment.
Sarail Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Manjur Kader Bhuiyan said police received information through the 999 emergency service and launched a drive to arrest the accused.
He said no written complaint has been filed yet, but police are trying to detain the suspect as the matter is sensitive.
Superintendent of Brahmanbaria 250-bed General Hospital Ratan Kumar Dhali said medical examinations of the victim are ongoing. He said the final findings will be confirmed after the report.
