Newlywed Abducted and Gang-Raped in Charghat Jute Field

A harrowing incident of sexual violence has emerged from Charghat Upazila in Rajshahi, where a young newlywed was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three youths whilst returning home from a local mosque. The crime occurred on Tuesday night (21 July), prompting the victim’s mother to file a formal case with the police on Wednesday. All three suspects fled the area immediately after the assault and remain at large.

The suspects named in the police report have been identified as Limon Islam (22), son of Anwar Hossain; Shitu Alam (18), son of Jahangir Alam; and Shiba Rahman (16), son of Sabibur Rahman. All three are residents of Shrikhandi village within the upazila.

According to family and local sources, the victim, an underage bride whose marriage took place recently, resides with her mother in the Yusufpur Union area of Charghat. Her husband works at a ready-made garment factory in Dhaka, leaving her under her mother’s care while he is away in the capital.

The complaint lodged with the police details that at approximately 9:00 pm on Tuesday, the victim was returning home after completing her evening Arabic studies at the local mosque. On her walk back, the three accused intercepted her path, muzzled her to prevent her from crying out, and forcibly dragged her into an adjacent jute field. There, all three youths reportedly subjected her to a brutal assault before abandoning her at the scene and fleeing into the darkness.

The traumatised young woman managed to make her way back home to inform her mother of the ordeal. On Wednesday morning, her family transported her to the Charghat Upazila Health Complex for initial medical attention and care.

Following her treatment, the victim’s mother proceeded directly to the local police station to seek justice, formally registering a gang-rape case naming the three youths as the perpetrators.

Confirming the development, the Officer-in-Charge of Charghat Model Police Station, Abdul Malek, stated that the case has been officially recorded under the relevant provisions of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. He added that law enforcement teams have already launched coordinated raids across potential hideouts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.