Public vigilance in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila led to the apprehension of three bus crew members overnight after they allegedly attempted to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl inside a transport vehicle.

The incident unfolded in the Square Masterbari area along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at approximately 2:00 am on Tuesday. Local residents, alerted by suspicious activity inside the vehicle, intervened swiftly, securing the transport bus and handing all three suspects over to law enforcement officers.

According to police and local sources, the victim had boarded an HP Paribahan bus originating from Rangpur at around 7:00 pm on Monday evening at Kaliakair bus stand in Gazipur. The teenager, who had left her home following a domestic dispute with her mother earlier that day, intended to travel to the capital. The bus assistant reportedly persuaded her to board the vehicle with the assurance of safe passage to Dhaka. However, instead of proceeding directly to the capital, the crew diverted the vehicle, arriving at Bhaluka’s Square Masterbari stand at around 1:30 am. Once all other passengers had disembarked, the driver, supervisor, and assistant allegedly isolated the girl inside the empty bus and attempted to assault her. Hearing the victim’s distress, nearby locals gathered at the scene, overpowered the suspects, and promptly notified the authorities.

Bhaluka Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Jahidul Islam confirmed that a formal case has been registered by the victim’s father, who arrived at the station alongside her mother shortly after being notified. The police have seized the transport bus and transferred the suspects into judicial custody following an initial interrogation.

Safety concerns surrounding inter-district public transport across Bangladesh have intensified in recent years, with civil rights groups repeatedly demanding stricter oversight of transport staff. Cases involving late-night travel, particularly along major national highways such as the Dhaka-Mymensingh corridor, frequently highlight the vulnerabilities faced by unaccompanied female passengers. Transport safety advocates continue to call for rigorous background checks for drivers and helpers, along with enhanced police patrolling near major bus terminals to curb such incidents.

Details of the Incident and Detained Suspects

The victim has been provided with necessary support, and police investigations remain ongoing to determine the full sequence of events leading up to the attempt.