The incident took place on Friday, when the suspect, identified as Biplob, allegedly attempted to rape the child and brutally assaulted her with a brick after she resisted. The attack left her with serious injuries to her nose and face.
Biplob, a resident of Purba Adalatpara (Chowdhury Bazar) in Tangail Sadar upazila, was arrested at Collegepara Park Bazar intersection in Tangail town on Sunday afternoon. Following his arrest, a group of local residents reportedly assaulted him. Police subsequently intervened, rescued him from the angry crowd and took him to the police station.
Additional Superintendent of Police HM Mahbub Rezaon, in charge of Tangail Sadar Circle, said law enforcement agencies had launched operations at several locations immediately after the incident on Friday.
According to the police official, an informant initially identified Biplob and attempted to apprehend him. During the attempt, the suspect allegedly bit the informant’s hand and tried to escape. He was eventually detained with the assistance of local residents before police arrived and formally arrested him.
The additional superintendent said Biplob had been acquainted with the child’s mother and regularly visited her shop through that connection. Police also alleged that he was addicted to drugs. Following his arrest, the suspect provided investigators with several important pieces of information, although the details have not been disclosed.
According to the case statement, Biplob allegedly lured the girl away on Friday afternoon by offering to buy her crisps. He then took her to a building in Tangail town, where he allegedly attempted to sexually assault her.
When the child resisted, he allegedly struck her repeatedly in the face with a brick, causing serious injuries. A rickshaw puller later found the girl in a critical condition and rescued her before taking her to Tangail Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment.
The child’s mother subsequently filed a case at Tangail Sadar Police Station, accusing the suspect of rape and attempted murder.
Medical examinations raised serious concerns about the nature of the assault. On Saturday, Al Amin Siddiqui, an intern doctor at Tangail Medical College Hospital, said preliminary findings by the medical team indicated that the child had been sexually assaulted. He also confirmed that her nose had been fractured and that multiple stitches had been required to treat injuries to her lips.
Hospital director Dr Abdul Quddus said the child was transferred to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka at around 10am on Sunday because of the severity of her injuries.
He said she had sustained serious trauma to her nose and face and required more specialised medical attention. A detailed assessment of the alleged sexual assault would be possible once the medical report became available.
Meanwhile, police have continued their investigation into the case. Ashraf Mukter, officer-in-charge of Tangail Sadar Police Station, said the suspect was being questioned in police custody and was scheduled to be produced before a court on Monday.
Tangail Superintendent of Police Muhammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar said the authorities were treating the case with the utmost seriousness and conducting an investigation into all aspects of the incident.
The incident has also drawn attention from senior government representatives. At around 11.45pm on Saturday, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku visited Tangail Medical College Hospital to enquire about the child’s condition and the treatment being provided.
During the visit, he assured the family that arrangements would be made for the child’s advanced treatment. He also took responsibility for covering all expenses related to her medical care.
The case has raised fresh concerns about children’s safety, particularly the risks they may face from people already familiar to their families. The allegation that the suspect used his previous acquaintance with the child’s mother to gain access to her highlights the importance of vigilance and safeguarding measures.
As the investigation proceeds, ensuring the child’s access to appropriate medical care and psychological support will remain essential. The authorities will also need to establish the full circumstances of the incident through medical evidence, witness statements and other investigative findings.
