Arrest made over rape allegation of seven-year-old child

In a deeply distressing incident that has sent shockwaves through the local community, a 10-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the brutal assault of a seven-year-old girl in the Chandina upazila of Cumilla. The young victim is currently undergoing intensive treatment at Cumilla Medical College Hospital (CuMCH) following the harrowing ordeal.

Details of the Incident

The assault reportedly took place on the afternoon of Friday, 26 December, in the village of Barkait. According to the victim’s grandmother, the child was lured away from her home under the guise of assistance. The suspect’s own grandmother allegedly called the young girl to help pick “Bilimbi” fruits from a tree near their residence.

Once the task was completed, the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Tushar Ahmed, reportedly coerced the child into his home. It is alleged that Tushar bound the girl’s hands and feet and gagged her to prevent her from crying out before committing the act of sexual violence. He subsequently fled the scene, leaving the child in a critical, bloodied state.

The victim was initially rushed to Chandina Upazila Health Complex, but due to the severity of her injuries, she was quickly transferred to the specialised facilities at Cumilla Medical College Hospital.

Allegations of a Cover-Up

Disturbingly, the crime was kept hidden for three days due to the intervention of local influential figures. Reports suggest that certain village “matabbars” (community elders) attempted to suppress the matter by offering financial compensation to the victim’s father, who works as a rickshaw puller. They pressured the family to settle the matter through a local arbitration (salish) rather than seeking legal recourse.

The silence was only broken on Tuesday, 30 December, when rumours began to circulate through the village. Upon hearing the allegations, local journalists visited the site and immediately alerted the authorities.

Police Action and Case Profile

Prompted by the media’s intervention, the Chandina police conducted a raid on Tuesday afternoon and apprehended Tushar Ahmed from the Barkait area. He is the son of Faridul Islam Sahid, an expatriate worker currently residing abroad.

The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chandina Police Station, Atiqur Rahman, confirmed the arrest. “As soon as we were informed of the matter, we acted swiftly to take the accused into custody. We are now in the process of ensuring all legal formalities are strictly followed to bring justice to the victim,” he stated.

Authorities have indicated that a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act is being filed. The community remains on edge, with many calling for the strictest punishment for both the perpetrator and those who attempted to obstruct justice by concealing the crime.