The dead body of a nine-year old girl, who police suspect could have been raped, was brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.
“Police recovered the body of victim Antara Akter around 10am yesterday from her house in Meradia of Baipara in Khilgaon,” said Rassel Kabir, sub-inspector of Khilgaon police station. “The body was sent to the DMCH for an autopsy.”
Nur Alam, assistant police commissioner of Khilgaon, told the Dhaka Tribune: “In primary checkup, we have found some evidence of rape and physical assault on her body. But we will be able to take action only after the evidence is confirmed in medical report.” A forensic report generally takes about seven days. Nur Alam said the victim’s maternal uncle had been detained for interrogation.
The girl’s family has not filed any case in connection with the death until filing of this report yesterday evening.
Antara, a student of grade three at a local school, and her 13-year-old elder sister had been living with their maternal aunt Fatema Begum for three years.
Fatema, who doesn’t have any children, said Antara’s parents got divorced six years ago. “Her mother Kulsum got married again and went to Mauritius with her second husband soon after.”
Antara’s father Mohammad Ali Hossain, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, also got married again and had been living in the capital’s Sipahibagh area with his second wife.
On Sunday night, Fatema’s husband Anowar Hossain, a garment factory worker, was not at home. Fatema said he went to his village home to visit his ailing father. One of Fatema’s brothers, that is Antara’s maternal uncle, came to stay with them for the night.
Antara went to bed around 12:30am in one room. Fatema and Mitu slept in another room, while Fatema’s brother slept in the drawing room.
Around 8am yesterday, Mitu went to Antara’s room and found her dead. The lower portion of the girl’s body was dripping in blood.
Neither Mitu nor Fatema nor her brother was able to say anything about the death. Antara’s father Hossain, who did not live with his daughters, could not say anything as well. They had not been able to name any suspect either.
The statement that Fatema gave to police could not throw any light at all on how the girl could have possibly died in sleep.