A twelve-year-old girl and her sixteen-month-old cousin narrowly escaped an abductor’s clutches in Binna village, situated within the Nesarabad sub-district of Pirojpur, following a harrowing ordeal on Saturday afternoon. The resourcefulness and quick thinking of the young student ensured both children returned home unscathed, though the incident has ignited widespread anxiety amongst local residents.
According to family members, the events unfolded shortly after midday when Mimi, a Year 5 pupil at Binna Government Primary School, stepped out towards a neighborhood shop while carrying her infant cousin, Ayan. Outside the shop, she noticed a woman clad in a burqa who appeared to be unwell. Moved by concern, the young girl approached to render assistance.
The encounter turned sinister when the unidentified woman extracted a canister from her handbag and discharged a chemical spray directly into Mimi’s face. Disoriented and semi-conscious, the child was led away to a male accomplice waiting nearby. The duo subsequently forced both children into a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw, transporting them several kilometres to the bustling fish market area of Miarhat Port.
Mimi regained full consciousness upon arriving at the port. The male suspect ordered her out of the vehicle and brandished a knife to compel compliance. Shortly thereafter, the perpetrator became distracted while placing a mobile telephone call. Seizing this critical moment, Mimi clutched her baby cousin firmly, slipped away into the crowded market, and fled to the safety of a relative’s house nearby.
The children’s aunt promptly contacted Mimi’s mother, Moryom Begum, around four o’clock in the afternoon to confirm the children’s whereabouts and detail their miraculous escape.
Local community members have expressed deep concern over the brazen nature of the attack. Enamul Huq Ratan, a senior schoolteacher in the area, highlighted the unsettling tactics employed by the suspected abductors, noting that the incident serves as a stark reminder for parents to remain vigilant regarding their children’s safety.
Law enforcement authorities have initiated preliminary enquiries into the matter. Mohammad Mehdi Hasan, Officer-in-Charge of Nesarabad Police Station, confirmed that officials became aware of the incident through social media reports. Whilst no formal written complaint has been lodged by the family at present, police officers are actively verifying the claims to establish the precise sequence of events and ascertain whether an organised kidnapping ring is operating within the region.
