The doctor who exposed the pregnancy of an 11-year-old rape victim at a qawmi madrasa in Netrakona now faces a wave of intimidation, including rape threats and death threats, for breaking the silence.
Gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Saima Akhtar says she is living in extreme insecurity after speaking to the media about the incident.
Five days after the case emerged, police have yet to arrest the main accused, madrasa director Aman Ullah Sagar, who remains at large, according to the officer-in-charge (OC) of Madan Police Station in Netrakona.
Dr Saima’s husband told TIMES of Bangladesh that since she highlighted the child’s plight, he has been receiving continuous threats from various Facebook accounts and unknown phone numbers.
When contacted by phone, her husband Asif said, “Saima’s mental condition is currently very fragile due to ongoing cyberbullying and threats. She is not in a position to speak to anyone right now.”
Asked about the sources of the threats, he mentioned several Facebook accounts and phone numbers, including those operating under the names “Shahidi Hunkar” and “Sajid Madani”.
Asif said a general diary (GD) has already been filed with Madan Police Station regarding the rape of the child. He added that police have advised them to file a separate GD over the threats, and they have also spoken to the OC of Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station.
Madan Police Station OC Tariqul Islam told TIMES, “I have spoken to Dr Saima. She works in Mymensingh Sadar and Netrakona. They will come to the station to file a GD regarding the threats. Once that is done, we will take necessary legal steps and try to identify those involved in the cyberbullying.”
In another development, Dr Saima’s Facebook profile disappeared on Tuesday evening. Her whistleblowing post on the child’s situation had reached eight million views within five days.
What’s on those Facebook accounts
The Facebook account operating under the name “Sajid Madani”, from which threats were allegedly issued, states in its bio that the user holds a Takmil (Master’s) degree in Hadith from Jamia Tawakkuliya Renga in Sylhet.
Another account, “Shahidi Hunkar”, features a profile image of a man dressed in black holding a gun-like object. The same image appears on the “Sajid Madani” account, suggesting a possible link between the two.
Both accounts have posted content demanding the release of Ataur Rahman Bikrampuri, who was arrested over allegedly making extremist religious statements online.
The accounts also contain a series of inflammatory and communal posts, including content critical of Hindus and warnings directed at Muslim women regarding Hindu doctors. In addition, there are posts mocking the use of the term “Razakar” for those who opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.
Further posts appear to express support for the 11 September 2001 attacks in the United States, including messages praising those involved.
Saima in panic
Following continuous threats, Dr Saima Akhtar appeared on Facebook Live, visibly distressed, to express her helplessness. She said that, as a mother and a doctor, she spoke out only for a helpless orphaned child to ensure justice.
She said, “I am receiving threats every day that I will be raped and killed, that mobs will be formed against me, and that I will be hacked to death on the street wherever I am found.”
She added that she has been receiving constant messages on her phone throughout the day and night. “Even people who came to speak to me noticed how exhausted I am from the continuous notifications,” she said.
Expressing deep frustration, she said the pressure was becoming unbearable. “It feels like they are pushing me towards suicide. I am a Muslim woman. I want to stay mentally strong until the end, but I do not know how long I can hold on if this harassment continues,” she said.
She also appealed for intervention from the Prime Minister, saying, “At least give me some courage, some hope, some support. I only spoke out against injustice, nothing more.”
What happened to the child
Dr Saima Akhtar works as a consultant at Mymensingh Nagar Matrisadan and also sees patients at Swadesh Diagnostic Centre in Madan Upazila of Netrakona. On 30 April, the child’s mother brought the girl to her for medical attention.
During consultation, the child reportedly said, “My stomach feels heavy and something is moving inside, and I do not understand why it feels uncomfortable.”
Subsequent medical tests revealed that the girl was 27 weeks pregnant.
On 1 May, Dr Saima shared an ultrasound image on her Facebook page, writing: “She was admitted to a women’s madrasa for a better education. Who knew she would become a victim of the abusive behaviour of a senior staff member, who is already married and the father of a five-month-old child.”
Medical findings showed the girl is physically very weak, standing at less than four and a half feet and weighing only 29 kg. She is suffering from severe anaemia, with a haemoglobin level of 8.2, along with malnutrition and worm infestation. Dr Saima also warned that a normal delivery would be highly risky, as the baby’s head size is larger than the mother’s pelvic capacity.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh earlier, Dr Saima said that after the madrasa closed for holidays last November, the girl was called to clean a room at the request of the senior staff member. She alleged that when the child entered the room, she was raped. She further said the girl was threatened with death, along with threats to kill her mother if she disclosed the incident. According to her account, the abuse continued for another four to five days.
Accused also appears on Facebook Live
On the evening of 30 April, the girl’s mother filed a case at Madan Police Station in Netrakona. Following this, the accused, madrasa teacher Aman Ullah Sagar, went into hiding.
After Dr Saima’s Facebook post went viral, Sagar appeared on Facebook Live the following night. He claimed he had no role in the girl’s pregnancy and expressed willingness to undergo a DNA test.
He further alleged that the child was not aware of the madrasa’s rules and regulations and that, as she was unable to comply with dress requirements such as wearing the hijab, she was eventually sent back to her parents.
Madan Police Station OC Tariqul Islam told TIMES that police had reviewed the Facebook Live video and forwarded it to the investigating authorities.
Asked why the accused had not yet been arrested, he said, “We are trying, but he cannot be found.”
