The arrestee was identified as Dilu Sheikh, 47, a cook by profession. He is the son of late Kaimuddin Pramanik of Ward 9 of Goalondo Municipality.
A case was filed at Goalondo Ghat Police Station the same night by the victim’s mother against her husband, said Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdullah Al Tayabeer.
Also read: Much-talked-about changes to rape law passed in parliament
According to case statement, the victim’s mother married Dilu nearly six years ago after the death of her first husband. The girl lived with her mother and step-father at her maternal grandfather’s house.
On Wednesday, the victim’s mother went to Jamtola Bazar of the adjacent town for selling ‘pitha (cake)’ like every other day leaving her daughter and husband at home.
Around 5pm, Dilu tried to rape the victim but neighbours came to her rescue hearing her screams and caught the man.
Her mother returned home after learning about the incident and contacted police.
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Dilu was arrested around midnight after interrogation after his wife lodged a case against him under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.
The victim was sent to Rajbari Sadar Hospital for medical tests while the offender was sent to court, said the OC.
Child rape rises alarmingly in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has seen a rise in incidents of rape in recent months. Even upgrading the maximum penalty for rape to death could not deter the offenders.
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).
Among the victims, 116 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.
Also read:Bangladesh introduces death penalty for rape
The data was collected from various newspaper reports. But the actual number is believed to be much higher as many victims choose not to report sexual assaults fearing their safety.
Bangladesh amended the law last November making death penalty the highest punishment for rape 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, at least 160 incidents of rape were reported, ASK said.
Perpetrators are rarely held to account. The Human Rights Watch said the conviction rate for rape in Bangladesh is below 1 percent.
Written by: TAT
Edited by: ZK