A case has been filed against a 60-year-old man accused of raping a seven-year-old girl at the home of a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader in Satkhira Sadar upazila. Police said efforts were under way to arrest the suspect, identified as Mosharraf Hossain, the brother-in-law of the party leader.
Police rescued the child on Tuesday morning and admitted her to Satkhira Sadar Hospital for medical treatment and examination. The case was registered following allegations made by the child’s family.
According to the family, the incident took place on Saturday afternoon at a house in Waria village, within Jhaudanga Union. They alleged that Mosharraf took the child to the rooftop of the house belonging to Rafiqul Islam, a former union parishad chairman and president of the local BNP unit, and sexually assaulted her.
The child’s grandmother said the family informed Rafiqul Islam about the alleged incident but received no effective response. They subsequently contacted the police, who rescued the child and arranged for her to receive medical care.
The child’s family circumstances have also raised concerns about her vulnerability. Her father lives abroad, while her mother has established a separate household. The girl has been living with her grandmother in Waria village.
Idris Ali, a member of Jhaudanga Union Parishad, said he had also heard about the incident. He said he later met Rafiqul Islam and asked him about the allegations, but claimed that the former chairman left without providing a satisfactory explanation.
When asked about the allegations, Rafiqul Islam said he had heard about the incident. He maintained that closed-circuit television cameras were installed around his house and that examining the footage could help establish what had happened.
He also said that if his brother-in-law were found to have committed the offence, he should face exemplary punishment. However, Rafiqul alleged that political opponents were spreading misinformation about the incident to damage his reputation ahead of the forthcoming election. His claim of political motivation has not been independently verified.
Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Satkhira Sadar Police Station, said police had visited the scene and made inquiries after receiving information about the incident. He confirmed that the child had been admitted to the district hospital for treatment and medical examination and that a case had been filed. Police operations to arrest Mosharraf Hossain were continuing, he added.
The allegations have placed the focus on the need for a prompt and sensitive investigation, appropriate medical care and protection for the child. Investigators will need to examine the available evidence, including any relevant CCTV footage, and establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault.
Cases involving alleged sexual violence against children require particular care to protect the child’s privacy and well-being throughout the legal process. The investigation must proceed in accordance with the law, and the child must be able to receive necessary support without further distress.
The allegations against Mosharraf Hossain have yet to be established in court. Police have confirmed the filing of a case and said they are continuing efforts to take the accused into custody.
