An investigation has been launched in Laksam Upazila, Comilla, following allegations that a six-year-old child was subjected to sexual harassment and assault by a 70-year-old man. The incident reportedly occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, 23 May 2026. Local residents have alleged that influential political figures are actively attempting to suppress the matter through an informal village arbitration (bichar), discouraging the victim’s impoverished family from pursuing formal legal action.
The suspect, identified as 70-year-old Abdul Rashid, absconded immediately after the incident became public and remains in hiding.
Medical Evaluation and Administrative Deviations
On Saturday evening, the child was brought to the Laksam Upazila Health Complex for a medical examination. Following an initial assessment, the emergency department physician provided preliminary care and advised the family to immediately transfer the child to the One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) at Comilla Medical College Hospital for comprehensive forensic and psychological evaluation.
However, the family declined the transfer and returned home with the child. The operational sequence of the medical and investigative timeline is structured in the table below:
| Timeline / Phase | Event Description | Location | Operational Status / Findings |
| Saturday Afternoon | Alleged physical assault | Victim’s Residence | Suspect fled after being interrupted by the mother. |
| Saturday Evening | Preliminary Medical Exam | Laksam Upazila Health Complex | Emergency doctor recommended transfer to Comilla OCC. |
| Saturday Night | Family Refusal of OCC | Hospital to Residence | Family bypassed the OCC referral due to local pressure. |
| Midnight (12:30 am) | Police Field Deployment | Incident Village | Law enforcement dispatched to investigate and locate the suspect. |
Incident Background and Political Intervention
According to testimonies from five local residents, the victim’s parents are daily wage labourers who were away at work when the incident occurred. The child’s mother returned unexpectedly and discovered Abdul Rashid attempting to assault her daughter, causing Rashid to flee the premises.
Following the interruption, several locally influential politicians—including the President of the ward-level Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Md. Emdad Hossain, and the General Secretary of the Union-level Swechchhasebak Dal—intervened to broker an out-of-court settlement. A video obtained by journalists confirms these political figures promising the family a domestic resolution.
The victim’s parents expressed vulnerability regarding their socio-economic standing and their dependence on village consensus. Speaking via telephone, the child’s mother stated:
“I returned home in the afternoon and witnessed the man [Rashid] attempting to commit an offensive act against my daughter.”
The child’s father added:
“The local residents have assured us that they will deliver justice through a community arbitration, which is why I do not wish to file a police case. If they provide a proper settlement, that will suffice. We reside in the same village; how can we go against the directives of our neighbours?”
Political Deflection and Official Police Response
When questioned by reporters regarding the informal mediation, the Ward Jubo Dal President, Md. Emdad Hossain, denied attempting to bypass the legal system, claiming his actions were supportive:
“Upon receiving information regarding the incident, we arrived at the scene and took all necessary measures. The child was taken to the hospital. The medical officer stated that nothing severe had occurred to the child and told the family they could return home without worry, noting only a bite mark on the girl’s hand. We have assured the family that we will ensure a fair domestic trial, and the family is in agreement with our terms.”
However, law enforcement authorities have rejected the validity of any local political arbitration for a felony offense. Kazi Kamrunnahar Laily, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Laksam Police Station, confirmed that a police team was dispatched to the village at 12:30 am on Sunday after learning the details of the alleged assault.
OC Laily concluded:
“Our primary findings indicate that an attempted brutal assault was committed against the child. Although our officers reached the spot immediately, the accused individual had already gone into hiding to evade arrest. We have strongly instructed the victim’s family to lodge a formal criminal case, and our teams are conducting continuous raids to apprehend the fugitive.”