A thirteen-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped by an old man in Sunamganj, according to a complaint lodged under the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act by the girl's father.
Survior’ss father owns a tea shop in Betganj Bazar of Mollapara Union of Sunamganj Sadar Upazila.
The case was filed against Azad Mia, son of Md. Abdur Rahim of Rohotpur village of Sunamganj.
The lone accused remains on the run and police are trying their best to arrest him, said Shahidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sunamganj Sadar Police Station.
According to the complaint, Azad Mia took hostage all the members of the girl's family last Sunday night around 8 pm in Betganj Bazar of Shahartali in Sunamganj after breaking in through the door. He also kidnapped the girl and raped her repeatedly.
Later, on Monday night a CNG driver recovered the girl lying injured from the Court Point of the area and admitted her to Shunmganj Sadar Hospital.
Child rape rises alarmingly in Bangladesh
Between January and December last year, 1,018 children were victims of rape but only 683 cases were filed, according to data compiled by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).
Surprisingly, 116 of the victims were aged 6 years or lower.
Overall, 1,627 incidents of rape were documented last year. Fifty-three of them were killed after rape and 14 of the victims took their own lives, ASK data showed.
The data was collected from various newspaper reports. But the actual number is believed to be higher as many victims choose not to report assaults fearing their safety.
Bangladesh amended the law to ensure the death penalty for rape last November amid countrywide outrage sparked by gang rape incidents in Sylhet MC College hostel and Noakhali.
The cabinet approved the amendment on October 12 last year. A day later, the president promulgated an ordinance in this regard.
Between Oct 13 and Dec 31, a staggering 160 incidents of rape were reported, ASK said.
Perpetrators are rarely held to account. Human Rights Watch said the conviction rate for rape in Bangladesh is below 1%.
