A 65-year-old man has been detained in southwestern Bangladesh on allegations of attempting to rape a fourth-grade schoolgirl, police said Saturday.
The suspect, identified as Rabiul Islam, was taken into custody in Gunakarkati village of Kullya Union in Ashashuni Upazila, Satkhira district, on Oct. 10.
Islam works as a carpenter at a furniture shop in the local market. The child is a student at a nearby primary school.
According to local residents, a woman working at a rice-drying yard behind the shop noticed the girl lying unconscious outside the premises as the suspect hurriedly closed his shop and attempted to leave.
The witness, identified as Hamida Khatun, said she rushed to help the child and poured water on her head in an effort to revive her.
After the girl regained consciousness, Hamida listened to her account of what had happened and accompanied her home, informing her family of the allegations.
As news of the incident spread, residents confronted Islam and prevented him from leaving until police arrived.
Sub-Inspector Anjir Hossain of Ashashuni Police Station subsequently detained the suspect.
The child’s father filed a case under Bangladesh’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, and police formally arrested the suspect Saturday.
Ashashuni Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahidur Rahman confirmed that the suspect had been taken into custody.
“Police were sent to the scene, and the accused was detained,” he said, adding that further details would be provided later.
The child’s family and local residents have demanded legal action against the suspect.
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