Police have arrested a 22-year-old man, Biplob, on charges of raping and attempting to kill a six-and-a-half-year-old girl in Tangail.
Local residents spotted Biplob in the Park Bazar area of Tangail town around noon on Sunday and beat him up. Police later arrived at the scene and arrested him.
The critically injured child has meanwhile been transferred from Tangail Medical College Hospital to Dhaka for better treatment.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Sultan Salahuddin Tuku visited the child at the hospital late Saturday night, spoke with her family members and assured them that he would bear all her medical expenses.
Tangail Medical College Hospital Director Dr Abdul Quddus said the child was sent to Dhaka on Sunday morning for advanced treatment as the state minister had taken responsibility for her medical expenses.
She underwent several medical tests on Saturday, he said.
Hospital intern doctor Al Amin Siddiqui said preliminary examinations found evidence of rape. The child had suffered severe injuries to her genital area, while her nose was also fractured. She required several stitches on her lips, nose and face, he said.
Tangail Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Muktar Ashraf Uddin said Biplob was arrested from the Park Bazar area and was being interrogated.
Police would seek his remand if necessary for further questioning before producing him before a court, the OC said.
State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku told journalists that he had spoken to officials at various levels to ensure the maximum punishment for those responsible.
Necessary measures would also be taken to prevent such incidents in the future, he said.
According to the case statement and local sources, Biplob allegedly lured the child to the fourth floor of the Central Kalibari in Tangail town on Friday afternoon by offering her chips.
He allegedly raped her there and attacked her face and nose with a brick when she resisted, leaving her critically injured.
A rickshaw puller later rescued the child and took her to Tangail Medical College Hospital.
The child’s mother filed a case against Biplob on Saturday night, accusing him of rape and attempted murder.