Police Friday arrested two teenagers for "raping" a seven-year-old girl in Bagerhat's Chitalmari. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chitalmari Police Station Mir Shariful Haque said, "On Thursday, the duo approached the girl and lured her on the pretext of playing a game. The teenagers took the seven-year-old to a nearby sugarcane field where they 'sexually assaulted' her." Later, the victim's father rushed to the spot hearing her scream and caught the teenagers in the act. Next, he filed a case against them at night, the OC said. Also read: Rape epidemic: 2 held over gang-rape of Pabna woman The girl was taken to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital for a medical examination, he added. Bangladesh's rape epidemic Bangladesh is facing a "rape epidemic" despite recent government approval of the death penalty for the crime – not that evidence ever suggested it would have the desired effect. Earlier last month, a police headquarters report said 26,695 rape cases had been filed across the country in the last five years. Also read: Police HQ: 26,695 rape cases filed in 5 yrs, with notable jump since 2019 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. Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the victims were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, the data showed. However, ASK's data was likely just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape. Also read: Housewife ‘gang-raped’ in Patuakhali In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was attacked and raped in Noakhali. In November last year, Bangladesh introduced the death penalty for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across Bangladesh. But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as victims of sexual assault are often stigmatised in society.

A youth was arrested in Bagerhat for allegedly raping his 5th grader cousin. The arrestee was identified as Ujjol Khan, 26. On Sunday police arrested Ujjol conducting a drive in Sadar upazila’s Jatrapur area following a case filed by the victim’s father accusing Ujjol and his mother Farida Begum. Also read: Child Rape in Shariatpur: 'Rapist' madrasa teacher let off with fine Victim’s father in the case statement said on February 15, his sister Farida Begum took his daughter home for a stay over and didn’t let her come when they asked to let her. On March 10 when the victim's father went to Farida’s house she hid the victim and misbehaved with him. On March 29 with the help of locals he rescued the victim from Farida’s house. Also read: Teen held for child rape in Narayanganj The victim said from February 17 to March 29, Ujjol has raped the victim several times. When asked, Farida Begum threatened the victim's father to not talk about the incident. Bagerhat model police station’s Officer-in-Charge, KM Ajijul Islam, said Ujjol was arrested upon the case filed by victim’s father. Also read: Police HQ: 26,695 rape cases filed in 5 yrs, with notable jump since 2019 Ujjol will be handed over to court after questioning and efforts are going on to detain the other accused, said police.

Despite widespread protests against rape and the government’s plan to toughen the law in this regard, a female NGO worker has allegedly been gang raped at her Maitkumra house at Fakirhat of Bagerhat district.