A youth was arrested in Keraniganj for allegedly raping a 14-year-old madrasa girl on Sunday night. The arrestee was identified as Biplob alias Dipu, 28, son of Kolim of Bamonshur area. Read:Teenage school girl gang raped in Panchagarh: Prime accused held Abu Salam, officer-in-charge of Keraniganj Model Police Station, said Biplob abducted the girl and raped her in a house. He freed the girl after eight hours with a threat to kill her if she revealed the incident to anyone. Later, on Sunday night, Police arrested Biplob when rape-survivor's mother filed a case against him. The arrestee was sent to jail after being produced before court on Monday afternoon, the OC added. Bangladesh's rape epidemic Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year. Read: Man loses the plot after divorce, rapes wife's underage sister keeping her hostage A police headquarters report, released recently, said that 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below. Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data. However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape. In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali. Read: Woman gang raped in Sylhet tea estate; 4 arrested In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country. But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two men in the district's Sadar upazila on Monday night on the pretext of offering her a lift. In her complaint, the girl claimed that she had a tiff with her mother over a small issue on July 12. Later in the evening, she left her house and went to Balua Bazar to take a bus to Dhaka. As she was waiting near a bus ticket counter around 7pm, its in-charge and his assistant wanted to know from the girl why she was out on the streets during lockdown. Read:Woman grazing livestock raped & killed in Rajshahi When the girl told them that she wanted to go to the national capital, the duo immediately offered to arrange a microbus for her trip. The unsuspecting girl agreed to go with them and got into the vehicle without any hesitation, police said. However, the duo allegedly took her to an abandoned house in the upazila on the pretext of wrapping up some unfinished work before heading to Dhaka and took turns to rape her. The girl was later rescued by local residents, according to the police. A case of rape has been filed at Sadar Police Station against the accused, Kasai Lal Mia and Bakul Prodhan, on the basis of the girl's complaint, said Mahfuzar Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station. "Efforts are on to nab the two accused," he added. Read: Robbers toss baby out of the house, rape woman in Bhola Bangladesh's rape epidemic Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year. A police headquarters report, released recently, said that 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below. Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data. However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape. Read: 21-yr-old visiting maternal home raped in Sylhet In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali. In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country. But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.

A woman who had stepped out of her house to relieve herself was allegedly kidnapped and raped by four to five men in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha district.   The alleged crime occurred early on Monday morning.   Police said the accused took the woman to a desolate place and took turns to rape her after gagging her. But after she passed out, the accused panicked and fled from there.   Local residents spotted the woman and rushed her to Gaibandha District Hospital.   Cops have identified the accused as Mastan Shaheb Mia, Khushu Mia, Laltu Mia, Khorshed and Anarul. "Efforts are on to nab them," a police officer said. Also read: 'Only mindset change can eradicate rape culture in Bangladesh'   Bangladesh's rape epidemic   Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year.   Earlier last month, a police headquarters report said that 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years.   Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below. Also read: Much-talked-about changes to rape law passed in parliament   Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data.   However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape.   In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali.   In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country.   But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.