Police in Manikganj’s Ghior Upazila have arrested a man accused of sexually abusing his 11-year-old stepdaughter on multiple occasions.
The accused, identified as Julhas, was taken into police custody on Monday, 3 August, following allegations that he had subjected the child to sexual abuse while threatening and intimidating her into silence.
According to local residents and police sources, Julhas lived in a rented house in the Baniyajuri area of Ghior with his wife and her 11-year-old daughter from a previous marriage. The child’s family alleges that he sexually abused her on several occasions and used threats to prevent her from telling anyone about the incidents.
The latest alleged incident reportedly took place on Sunday morning. However, according to the child’s account, the alleged abuse was not an isolated event. She told her family that she had been subjected to similar abuse on previous occasions.
The child allegedly remained silent for some time because of fear of the accused and the threats he made against her. Family members believe that the atmosphere of fear created by the accused prevented her from speaking out earlier. On Monday morning, however, she reportedly gathered the courage to tell her mother about the alleged abuse in detail.
After learning what had happened, the mother took her daughter to Baniyajuri Union Parishad Chairman S R Ansari Biltu. The child reportedly described the alleged incidents to the chairman, who then took steps to alert the police.
Chairman S R Ansari Biltu said the child and her mother had come to the union parishad and reported allegations of repeated abuse. After hearing their account, he informed the officer-in-charge of Ghior Police Station and sought immediate legal intervention.
Police subsequently went to the area and detained Julhas before taking him to the police station.
Ghior Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mir Mahbubur Rahman said police received the allegation through the union parishad chairman and promptly sent officers to the location. The accused was detained and taken to the police station, while the process of taking necessary legal action was under way, he said.
Police said the allegations would be investigated and further legal action would be taken based on the findings. Authorities are also expected to consider the child’s safety and access to necessary support as the investigation progresses.
Child sexual abuse is a serious criminal offence, and cases involving alleged abuse by a trusted adult or family member can be particularly difficult for victims to disclose. Children may remain silent because of fear, threats, emotional pressure, dependence on adults or concerns about what might happen if they speak out. Delayed disclosure, therefore, does not by itself mean that an allegation is untrue.
Child protection specialists also stress the importance of ensuring that alleged victims receive appropriate medical care and psychological support, while being protected from further intimidation or contact with the accused. Families and caregivers have a crucial role in creating a safe environment in which children can speak openly about abuse and seek help.
In this case, police said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations and determine the appropriate legal steps. If the allegations are substantiated through the investigation and judicial process, the accused may face punishment under the applicable laws of Bangladesh.
