Two youths were sent behind bars Sunday for gang-raping a seventh-grader after abducting her from Chattogram's Anwara.

Police arrested Shahidul Islam Prokash, 20, and Md Raju Prokash Sagar, 25, on Saturday night in connection with the incident.

Anwara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Didarul Islam Sikdar said some spoiled youths Thursday abducted the seventh-grader. "They took the 13-year-old to the hilly jungle near Shah Mohsen Aulia Degree College and repeatedly raped her."

Upon learning the news, the victim's family rescued her from the jungle and rushed her to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Also read: Bangladesh introduces death penalty for rape

Later, the teenager's father filed a case with Anwara Police Station Saturday night.

Bangladesh's rape epidemic

Earlier this month, a police headquarters report said 26,695 rape cases had been filed across the country in the last five years.

The introduction of the death penalty for rape could not stop the crime. 

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases were filed. Also, 116 victims were 6 years old or below.

Also read: Police HQ: 26,695 rape cases filed in 5 yrs, with notable jump since 2019

Overall, 1,627 rape incidents were reported last year and 53 of the victims were killed by the perpetrators after committing the crime while 14 took their own lives, the data showed.

In November last year, Bangladesh introduced the death penalty for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women.

In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was attacked and raped in Noakhali.