A teenager in Ramgati upazila, Lakshmipur, has reportedly died by suicide after being falsely accused and vilified during a local arbitration meeting, with the police arresting the key accused after the filing of a case.
The incident occurred on March 6, and her mother filed a case the following day.
Police arrested the key accused, Rakib Hossain, 24, in Laksam, Comilla, on Monday morning. He was later presented before the court in the afternoon. Rakib Hossain is the son of Md Khabir Hossain from Paschimchar Kolakopa in Ramgati.
On March 7, the teen's mother filed a case against 12 individuals, alleging their involvement in the rape and inciting her daughter's subsequent suicide. Rakib was named as the key accused. Following the case, police also arrested another suspect, Helal Uddin, bringing the total number of arrests to two.
According to police reports, the teenager was raped on March 1. On March 6, while her mother was tending to crops near their home, the teenager took her own life. Authorities later recovered her body.
Family sources said Rakib broke into the house on the night of March 1 and raped the girl. When her mother discovered what had happened, Rakib fled.
She immediately informed his family, after which they arranged a mediation meeting. However, the meeting failed to address the rape allegation, and instead, the girl was further vilified.
Additionally, Helal Uddin, another accused, allegedly entered the victim's home and threatened to cut her hair and publicly humiliate her.
Overwhelmed by these threats and the false accusations, she ended her life the same day, the family said.
Ramgati police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Kabir Hossain said: "Rakib Hossain, the key accused, has been arrested, along with Helal Uddin, who played a role in threatening and slandering the victim. We are continuing operations to apprehend the remaining suspects."
Investigations are ongoing.