Police have arrested a van driver named Taleb Ali after identifying him through closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in connection with the sexual assault of a seven-and-a-half-year-old girl in Hatibandha Upazila, Lalmonirhat. The suspect, identified as the son of Shiar Shekh, is a resident of the Dolapara (Moydan) area within the Borkhata Union of the upazila. The incident occurred on the day after Eid, and the victim is currently receiving medical treatment at the Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital.
Incident Overview and Investigation
According to the First Information Report (FIR) and police sources, the incident transpired on a Friday evening. At approximately 19:00, the young girl visited her grandfather, who works as a barber, at his shop located in the Borkhata bazaar. After obtaining 20 taka from her grandfather, the child proceeded to the Borkhata Chowrangi intersection. At the intersection, she requested the accused van driver to transport her home.
The suspect permitted the child onto his van but failed to take her to her destination. Instead, he diverted the vehicle to a nearby garage, where he assaulted her before fleeing the scene. Shortly after the assault, another van driver discovered the victim crying, intervened, and safely transported her back to her family home.
The day following the assault, the family initially admitted the child to the Patgram Upazila Health Complex. As her medical condition necessitated advanced care, she was subsequently transferred to the Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital, where she remains hospitalised.
Legal Proceedings and Police Action
On the following Monday, the victim’s grandfather formally initiated legal proceedings by filing a case at the Hatibandha Police Station against an unidentified van driver. Following the lodgement of the complaint, the police initiated an immediate investigation, focusing on digital surveillance in the area.
Sub-Inspector (SI) Sanjoy Kumar Pal, the primary investigating officer from the Hatibandha Police Station, confirmed that investigators collected and thoroughly analysed local CCTV footage. The recorded footage successfully captured the suspect and the vehicle, enabling law enforcement to establish his identity conclusively. Following this identification, police personnel conducted a targeted operation on Monday night, resulting in the successful apprehension of Taleb Ali.
Case Summary Data
The core facts and confirmed details regarding the incident and the subsequent police response are structured in the table below:
| Case Element | Verified Information |
| Victim | Seven-and-a-half-year-old girl |
| Suspect | Taleb Ali (Van Driver) |
| Suspect’s Lineage | Son of Shiar Shekh, Dolapara (Moydan), Borkhata |
| Date of Incident | Friday (The day following Eid) |
| Time of Occurrence | Approximately 19:00 |
| Primary Location | A garage near Borkhata, Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat |
| Medical Facilities Visited | Patgram Upazila Health Complex; Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital |
| Complainant | Grandfather of the victim (Barber at Borkhata Bazaar) |
| Investigating Agency | Hatibandha Police Station |
| Investigating Officer | Sub-Inspector (SI) Sanjoy Kumar Pal |
| Method of Identification | Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage analysis |