A six-year-old girl was raped and killed in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria on Friday afternoon, with locals later detaining and beating the suspected perpetrator before handing him over to police.
The incident took place in Andidil village, Paschim Talsahar Union around noon.
The deceased was the daughter of expatriate Mozammel Haque, a resident of the village. The incident has triggered tension in the area.
According to the girl’s relatives, the child was called away by Jahidul, a teenager from a neighbouring house, while prayers were underway around noon.
When the girl did not return home, her mother began searching for her. She reportedly became suspicious after finding her daughter’s shoes in front of Jahidul’s uncle’s house.
Jahidul allegedly told the mother that he had given the girl water before she went elsewhere.
Suspecting that her daughter might be inside the house, the mother reportedly forced her way in and found the child lying motionless. She raised an alarm, prompting neighbours to rush to the scene, while Jahidul fled.
Locals later caught him and detained him at his uncle’s house. When an angry crowd attempted to attack him, additional police from Ashuganj arrived and took him to the police station.
Dr Monir Hossain, a physician at the 250-bed Brahmanbaria General Hospital, said the girl was brought to the hospital dead.
He said there were marks of injuries on different parts of her body and that a history of rape was suspected. Doctors subsequently recommended a post-mortem examination.
Jahangir Alam, assistant superintendent of police of Sarail Circle, said Jahidul confessed to the incident after being detained by police.
The body has been kept at the district headquarters hospital morgue for autopsy.