Man Arrested in Ghatail over Alleged Sexual Assault of Eight-Year-Old

Police in Ghatail Upazila, Tangail, have arrested a 52-year-old man following allegations of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl. The suspect, identified as Chhanowar Hossain Talukder, was taken into custody after the victim’s mother formally lodged a case at the Ghatail Police Station on Tuesday evening (21 July).

The accused is the son of Khorshed Alam, hailing from Shaliyabaha village within the Rasulpur Union of Ghatail Upazila.

According to the statement provided by the child’s mother, the incident occurred on the evening of 5 July at around 8:30 pm. The mother had sent her daughter to a nearby local shop to purchase mosquito coils. Whilst returning home with the coils, Chhanowar intercepted the young girl, muzzled her mouth to prevent her from calling for help, and forcibly dragged her into a nearby mango orchard where the alleged assault took place. The victim returned home shortly after, bleeding and in severe distress.

The family explained that fear prevented them from immediately reporting the crime to the authorities. The mother alleged that Chhanowar, who holds significant influence in the local area, threatened to drive the family out of the village if they disclosed the incident to anyone. Terrified by the threats, the vulnerable family initially remained silent. The mother also revealed that the suspect had previously subjected the child to molestation on an earlier occasion.

Overcoming the fear following support from local residents, the mother eventually approached the police to seek justice.

Speaking to our representative, the Officer-in-Charge of Ghatail Police Station, Moksedur Rahman, confirmed the arrest. He stated that law enforcement officers acted swiftly upon receiving the complaint and detained the suspect. Medical examinations for the victim have been arranged as part of the formal procedure, and police are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure appropriate legal action is taken against the accused.