A 13-year-old girl in Nawabganj, Dhaka, became pregnant after being gang-raped, leading her family to arrange an abortion due to social stigma. Following the incident’s exposure, locals apprehended one suspect, Ali Akbar (62), on Saturday (19 July) around 9 PM and handed him over to the police. The other accused, Alamgir Hossain (40), managed to escape.Ali Akbar, a resident of Panalia village in Kolakopa Union, Nawabganj, is the son of the late Samad Bepari. Alamgir Hossain, also from the same village, is the son of Ali Akmat.
According to the victim’s family and police sources, the girl’s father is a day laborer, and her mother often has to leave home for household necessities. About seven to eight months ago, Ali Akbar and Alamgir found the girl alone at home, forcibly restrained her, and threatened to kill her if she screamed. They then gang-raped her. They continued to intimidate her, warning her of death if she disclosed the incident. Over four months, they raped her multiple times, resulting in her pregnancy.
Fearing social stigma, the family arranged for an abortion. When the incident became public, enraged locals attempted to detain both suspects. While Ali Akbar was caught, Alamgir escaped by breaking a window at the back of the house.
The victim’s father told Prothom Alo, “I am a day laborer, but we too have dignity in society. The abortion was done secretly on Saturday afternoon. I demand justice for those two culprits.”
Nawabganj Police Station Sub-Inspector Md. Rajibul Islam said, “One of the rapists has been detained, while the other has fled. Legal proceedings are underway.”
