Schoolgirl gang raped in Tangail

Local councilors and others in Tangail have allegedly tried to hush up an incident of rape by negotiating with the alleged rapists. They negotiated the matter by lashing the perpetrators with shoes and fining them Tk1 lakh altogether. According to locals, a sixth grade student of Dhanbari Collegiate Model School was gang raped and became pregnant. Her family took her to Mymensingh for an abortion. Local trader Rafikul Islam, 30, forced the 13-year-old girl to have sex. Later, Rafik’s friends blackmailed the girl, saying they would tell others, and raped her several times. After a few days, the girl became pregnant. On Monday night, local ward councilor Zakaria Bakul and senior members of the neighbourhood held a meeting and decided to lash the rapists and impose a fine of a total of Tk1 lakh. They handed the victim’s family Tk50,000 immediately and asked them to arrange the girl’s abortion in order to hush up the scandal. The girl did not appear for an exam at her school on Wednesday. The school authorities said they would inquire about the matter. This correspondent went to the victim’s house where he met her younger brother. He said his sister was taken to Mymensingh. Dhanbari Municipality Mayor Khandaker Monjurul Islam Tapan said he had heard the news. “But none of the parties [victim’s family and perpetrators] informed me of the matter.” Mojibor Rahman, officer-in-charge of Dhanbari police station, said they have not received a written complaint yet. “We will take action against those responsible once we receive a written complaint,” he said, adding that he already assigned Sub-Inspector Farukul Islam to investigate. However, ward councilor Zakaria denied there had been any negotiations with the victim’s family.