Police in Khoksa, Kushtia, have detained an eighth-grade madrasa student following allegations of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in Baswa village, situated within Shimulia Union. The victim, who sustained severe injuries during the assault, remains admitted at Kushtia General Hospital, where medical personnel continue to administer emergency care.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, 5 August, while the child’s parents were working in a nearby marshland processing harvested jute crops. According to family accounts, the young girl had initially been resting indoors alongside her paternal grandparents before heading outside to play with neighbourhood children along the village road. Shortly afterwards, the suspect—identified as Saikat Ali, a neighbor—approached the child and offered to guide her to where her parents were working in the fields.
Rather than escorting the girl to her family, the suspect allegedly led her to an isolated patch of thatch grass nearby, where he assaulted her. Following the act, he attempted to pacify the child by offering to buy her crisps and sweets before leaving her in a physically distressed state. The injured child managed to reach her parents in the marshland and recounted what had transpired. Her parents immediately transported her to the emergency department at Khoksa Upazila Health Complex, where attending medical staff provided initial treatment before transferring her to Kushtia General Hospital due to the severity of her condition.
The child’s grandmother, Rahela Khatun, confirmed that the suspect took advantage of the victim’s trust by falsely offering to lead her to her parents.
The father of the accused, Ershad Ali, who serves as a local village police officer (Gram Police), stated that he personally apprehended his son and surrendered him to law enforcement. Ershad Ali explained that upon learning of the incident on Wednesday evening, he confronted the youth, who subsequently fled the village. The father tracked him to his maternal grandmother’s residence in neighbouring Pangsha Upazila, secured him, and handed him over to the Officer-in-Charge of Khoksa Police Station on Thursday morning, publicly acknowledging his son’s involvement.
Nasir, the ward member for Ward 9 in Shimulia Union, confirmed that local community representatives had been alerted and were cooperating with the investigation. He added that Sub-Inspector Raju of the local police station had conducted preliminary enquiries in the village to gather details surrounding the assault.
Confirming the arrest, the Officer-in-Charge of Khoksa Police Station, Molla Zakir, stated that police officers formally took the suspect into custody following his apprehension in Pangsha. Formal legal proceedings, including the registration of a case under relevant statutory child protection laws, remain ongoing while forensic investigators collect evidence and record statements from the victim’s family.
