The 8-year-old rape victim from Magura, who was battling for her life, passed away at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Thursday.

Amid public uproar over the horrific rape incident and countryside protests seeking justice the little girl’s 7-day battle for life ended around 1 pm.

She breathed her last around 1 pm despite receiving advanced medical care and the relentless efforts of expert doctors at CMH, the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) said in a press release.

The statement said that the child suffered three cardiac arrests in the morning. “While medical teams managed to revive her twice, the third proved fatal,” it said.

The critically injured girl had been admitted to the CMH on March 8 for emergency treatment.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus expressed profound shock at the death of the girl and ordered bringing the accused to book through speedy trial.

CA condoles death of Magura rape victim; orders speedy trial

Expressing its deepest condolences to her bereaved family, the Bangladesh Army pledged to support them in anyway necessary, and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.

The incident occurred on March 5 night when the victim visited her sister’s in-laws’ house at Nijnanduali village in Magura’s Sadar upazila.

She went to bed with her sister at night, but at the dead of night, her sister found her missing and began searching for her.

After a frantic search, the girl was found unconscious a few yards away from the house.

She was initially admitted to Magura General Hospital and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated.

On Thursday, she was moved to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) before being shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka.

The rape of the girl sparked protests across the country. University students, including that of Dhaka University, staged demonstrations on their respective campuses, demanding the death penalty of the accused.

Meanwhile, police arrested four people -- victim's brother-in-law Sojib Sheikh, 20, his brother Ratul Sheikh, 25, and their parents, i.e. her sister's parents-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, 50,and Jabeda Begum, 40, -- in connection with the rape on March 8(Sunday).

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On Monday midnight, a Magura court placed the main accused on a seven-day remand and three others on a five-day remand each.

The High Court (HC) on Sunday ordered the lower court to complete the trial of the case within six months.

The HC also ordered the completion of investigation into the case within 30 days, and submit a report in this regard accordingly.