A disabled teenage girl visiting her maternal grandparents in Gafargaon upazila, Mymensingh, was allegedly sexually assaulted on Monday afternoon. The victim’s grandfather filed a formal complaint at Pagla Police Station late on Monday night, 28 September, prompting law enforcement authorities to initiate a criminal investigation.
According to police reports and statements from family members, the girl—a resident of Sahedal village in the neighbouring Hosseindoor upazila of Kishoreganj district—had arrived in North Harina village under Panchbagh Union a few days prior to visit her extended family. The assault took place at approximately 5:30 pm on Monday, when the teenager ventured behind her grandparents’ home to gather fallen dry leaves.
Taking advantage of the isolated surroundings, a neighbour identified as Sabbir, son of Rafiqul (locally known as Lomba Rafiq), allegedly enticed the girl away to an abandoned room adjacent to the property. It was inside this secluded structure that the suspect carried out the alleged assault. Upon returning to her relatives in distress, the girl recounted the ordeal, prompting her family to alert local community elders before approaching law enforcement.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Pagla Police Station, Mohammad Aminul Islam, confirmed that a case under the Prevention of Women and Children Repression Act had been officially registered based on the grandfather’s written statement. He added that officers acted swiftly to escort the survivor to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where medical personnel are conducting forensic examinations and providing necessary physical care.
Investigators from Pagla Police Station have launched targeted raids across Gafargaon and adjacent regions to trace and apprehend the suspect, who fled the village shortly after the incident. Police patrols have been increased in North Harina village to reassure local residents and preserve evidence at the crime scene.
Incidents targeting vulnerable populations, particularly children with physical or cognitive disabilities, underscore the ongoing necessity for community vigilance and rigorous legal enforcement in rural districts. Local community leaders have voiced deep outrage over the incident, calling upon law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough investigation and swift prosecution of the perpetrator to prevent such atrocities in the region.
