One more arrested over rape of Patuakhali girl

Police today (21 March) arrested another suspect over allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl who was abducted from the Dumki upazila on Tuesday evening.

The suspected rapist Sifat Munshi, 19, was arrested from a house in Pirojpur, said Patuakhali Superintendent of Police (SP) Anwar Zahid.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Patuakhali Detective Branch police carried out a raid in Pirojpur and made the arrest, said the SP.

With this arrest, the police have successfully apprehended the individuals named in the complaint.

Daughter of July uprising martyr allegedly gang-raped on her way back from visit to father's grave; 1 arrested

Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dumki Police Station, said the arrestees were later sent to jail following a court order.

The victim has been kept under police protection at Patuakhali Medical College Hospital for examination.

According to police sources, the victim was on her way to her maternal grandparents' house when she was followed by Sakib and Sifat from the Naldoyani area.

At one point, the two men overpowered her, took her to a nearby garden, and allegedly raped her.  They also threatened to spread pictures of the assault on social media.

Meanwhile, on 20 March afternoon, National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam visited the victim's family at Patuakhali Hospital.

Later that evening, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman spoke with the victim's mother over the phone.

Both leaders assured the family of their full support and cooperation, as well as assistance with rehabilitation.