A shocking case of a five-year-old girl’s brutal rape has taken a grotesque turn as local village elders attempted to “resolve” the crime by publicly slapping the 60-year-old accused instead of pursuing legal action. The victim remains hospitalized at Kushtia General Hospital with confirmed physical evidence of sexual assault, while human rights organizations condemn this mockery of justice.
Local sources report that on June 11, the victim’s mother had stepped out to escort her grandmother when their neighbor, Bisha Mondal (60), lured the child into his home. Shortly after, the girl returned limping and visibly distressed. Upon questioning, she revealed that Bisha had “done bad things” to her.
Instead of reporting the crime to police, the family brought the matter to the village ‘salish’ (traditional council), attended by local leaders, including Union Parishad member Motiur Rahman Liton and community head Rahim Mondal. In a travesty of justice, the council summoned the accused, subjected him to slaps and beatings, and declared the matter “resolved.”
The next day, the girl developed severe physical pain and psychological trauma, requiring hospitalization. Dr. Hossain Imam, the resident medical officer at Kushtia General Hospital, confirmed forensic evidence of rape and noted the child remains psychologically traumatized.
The mother, initially hesitant to file a police case due to social pressure, told, “I was worried about my daughter’s future, so I didn’t go to the police. The village leaders told me to focus on treatment first and promised to help with legal action later. Now, I will definitely file a case.”
UP member Motiur Rahman Liton claimed he advised the family to pursue legal action but shifted blame:
“The accused’s relatives beat him during the ‘salish’. I was just present. This was not the right way to handle such a crime.”
Community leader Rahim Mondal echoed this deflection:
“We tried to mediate socially. We told the family to file a case, but they refused.”
Officer-in-Charge Mehdi Hasan of Islamic University Police Station stated the family has been urged to file a formal complaint, and investigations are underway. Sub-Inspector Nur Nabi of Patikabari Police Camp added:
“We’ve visited the hospital and instructed the family to come to the station after treatment for legal proceedings.”
Publication Date: 17 June, 2025
Reports published in various newspapers on this issue: samakal, banglatribune, jagonews24
এই আর্টিকেলটি বাংলায় পড়তে চাইলে এখানে ক্লিক করুন
