Man detained in Ctg over alleged sexual harassment of child

Police have detained a 38-year-old man on allegations of sexually harassing an eight-year-old girl after calling her into the veranda of an abandoned madrasa in Karnafuli Upazila of Chattogram.

The incident took place at around 10:10am today (10 August) at the veranda of the abandoned Haji Azam Ali Sekandar Madrasa in the Dweep Kalar Moral area of Sikalbaha Union.

The suspect, Shah Alam, is a resident of Sikalbaha Union.

According to police, Shah Alam called the girl over while she was on her way to private tutoring and took her to the veranda of the abandoned madrasa. He allegedly gave her Tk10 to buy something from a nearby shop before hugging her and touching her on her chest and other sensitive parts of her body.

Several locals reportedly witnessed the incident, detained Shah Alam and assaulted him. Police were later informed and went to the scene, taking him into custody and arranging primary medical treatment for the child.

Karnafuli Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Masud Ibn Anwar told The Business Standard, "We received allegations that the man touched the child's body. Local people detained him and informed the police, after which police went to the scene and took him into custody."

He said, "We are investigating whether the local people assaulted the detained man. Legal proceedings in connection with the incident are underway."

Police said the girl's father is preparing to file a case over the incident.