Elderly Neighbour Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault of Schoolgirl

An intensive police operation in Rangpur’s Pirgacha sub-district has culminated in the arrest of a 55-year-old man accused of raping a 10-year-old primary school student.

The suspect, identified as Shahidul Islam, was apprehended by law enforcement officers on Friday afternoon, 10 July, from the Paotana Hat area, where he had reportedly fled following the incident. Islam, the son of Shames Uddin, resides in Pratipal village within the Tambulpur union. Local sources indicate that the suspect is a close neighbour of the victim’s family, traditionally regarded by the young girl as a grandfather figure.

According to police reports and local residents, the incident transpired on Friday afternoon when Islam allegedly lured the third-grade student to his vacant residence under the false pretence of taking her fishing. Exploiting the isolation of the property, he allegedly subjected the child to a sexual assault. The young girl’s screams alerted nearby residents, who immediately rushed towards the house to investigate. Sensing imminent detection by the gathering community, the suspect fled the scene.

The victim’s family promptly alerted the Pirgacha police station, prompting an immediate deployment of officers. A specialised police team tracked the suspect to Paotana Hat, executing a swift arrest within hours of the crime being reported.

The child’s family has formally lodged a criminal case at the Pirgacha police station under the stringent Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. This legislative framework in Bangladesh deals specifically with grievous offences against women and minors, carrying severe penalties upon conviction. The suspect was formally produced before a magistrate’s court on Saturday afternoon, 11 July, where law enforcement officials requested his detention pending further judicial proceedings.

Selim Malik, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pirgacha police station, confirmed the operational details, stating that the police acted with utmost urgency upon receiving the allegations to ensure the suspect could not evade justice. He added that the authorities are concurrently coordinating with medical professionals to ensure the victim receives comprehensive medical treatment, psychological support, and forensic examination at a state-run facility. Local community leaders have expressed deep shock over the incident, calling for an expedited trial to ensure a rigorous judicial response to the assault.