Hospital sweepers raped a woman while her daughter was admitted for treatment at Natore Modern Sadar Hospital. Although authorities caught the perpetrators and they confessed, hospital officials are reportedly trying to suppress the incident.
Natore Modern Sadar Hospital Ansar Platoon Commander Md Monnaf Hossain confirmed the matter.
The victim, a resident of Natore Municipality, said she admitted her daughter to the children’s ward four days ago. On 7 June around 10pm, an outsourcing sweeper named Amit called her away under the pretext of providing medicine.
He then forcibly took her to the staircase on the 6th floor and raped her. Two of Amit’s associates, also outsourcing sweepers named Anil and Prangan, filmed on a mobile phone. They attempted to blackmail her by showing the video.
Around 2am, nurses and ward boys in the children’s ward noticed the child had been alone for four hours. They began searching for the mother and sought help from Ansar members on duty. After checking CCTV footage, they found the perpetrators on the 6th floor.
Ansar members rescued the woman and brought the three sweepers to hospital authorities, recording statements on a mobile phone. The victim described the assault, and the sweepers admitted to it.
However, shortly afterward, authorities released the sweepers after consulting local police and handed the victim over to her family – apparently to hush up the matter.
The victim’s husband said they seek justice for such a crime and went to the police station on Tuesday morning.
Md. Salahuddin, an Ansar member on duty, said, “The suspects and the victim were handed over to the hospital authorities. We don’t know how the suspects left after that.”
Commander Monnaf added that Ansar members have recorded the victim’s rape allegation and the suspects’ confessions.
Acting Superintendent of the Natore Modern Sadar Hospital Md Arshed Ali said, “Legal action will be taken against those involved in the rape and the filming of the video.”
Superintendent of Police Md Shariful Huq added that legal action would be taken upon receiving a formal complaint.
