A wave of intense public outrage has engulfed Pabna following the brutal abduction, sexual assault, and subsequent murder of a ten-year-old primary school student, Kamrunnahar Koli. In a manifestation of deep-seated community anger, enraged locals attacked and extensively vandalised the house of the prime suspect, neighbour Mostafa Pramanik, as shockwaves from the heinous crime continue to reverberate across the region.
The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon immediately after Friday congregation prayers, when residents of Kulunia village under the Dogachhi Union of Pabna Sadar Upazila assembled in large numbers and converged on the accused man’s residence. An anonymous local witness recounted that the community has been gripped by profound grief and resentment since the tragic discovery of the child’s body, prompting the collective backlash. Another resident noted that the atmosphere remains tense and fearful, with locals universally demanding a transparent investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Confirming the outbreak of violence, Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tarikul Islam explained that a police contingent had been deployed to the area beforehand. However, because the size of the gathering far outweighed the police presence at the scene, officers were unable to immediately halt the onslaught. Reinforcements consisting of additional police units were subsequently dispatched to restore order and bring the situation under control.
The tragic sequence of events began on the evening of 9 September, when young Kamrunnahar Koli went missing after stepping out of her home. Distraught family members searched frantically across various locations without success, eventually filing a general diary at the local police station. Seven days later, on the morning of 16 September, police recovered her body stuffed inside a sack from a ditch near her home in Kulunia village. Swift investigative follow-ups led law enforcement to arrest neighbour Mostafa Pramanik and his tenant, Yasin, in connection with the crime.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Pabna Superintendent of Police Abu Ashraf shared chilling details uncovered by investigators. According to police findings, the suspects lured the young girl to a room at the back of Mostafa Pramanik’s grocery shop on the day she disappeared, where she was assaulted and murdered before being dumped in the ditch.
Authorities have emphasised that the investigation remains active and comprehensive, with legal proceedings moving forward to ensure all perpetrators face justice. Meanwhile, security forces maintain a watchful presence in the village to prevent further disturbances as the community mourns the young victim.
